I love the topic. Thank you for discussing this. I love watching fragrance content on RUclips, but I have to admit, it does make me prone to overspending. In the fragrance community, it seems to be normalised to own fifty bottles of perfume. Or a hundred. But let's stay realistic here, I don't think it's normal to own that amount of fragrances as a regular customer. I feel like a lot of people tend to think it's reasonable to buy more, because the RUclipsr they watch has way more. So owning excessive collections starts to feel normal. It's a slippery slope.
Basically we buy to use and enjoy thrm, but if we count the time that takes to spend a bottle and multiply the bottles we have, probably we need 10/20/ 30 years to use them. It's a madness. Maybe our coleccions survives us.
For sure. Most people I know only own 1 or 2. Some people don't own any. I have around 7 bottles, but there was a time in my life when I owned a lot more. I have a wishlist in my mind and when I run out of one fragrance, I replace it with something in my wishlist. I usually buy a smaller quantity like 50ml so that it's enough to give the fragrance some love, but not enough to get tired of it. I've noticed that I have a few main categories I like: Citrus, fruity, vanilla. If I have two in each category, that's enough for whatever mood I'm in!
Good reminder. I live a debt free life, even paid off my home. How I got there was always watching my finances. I have only spent $600 on fragrances so far this year. I always sample and often after trying it for a few days I find I can live without it. I only buy the ones I am crazy in love with. However, I am watching the Navitus release from Gabby (almost hoping it is close to my "Over the Chocolate Shop" so I can resist). I decided a year ago to stop at 50 bottles (30 ml or larger). I've stuck to that as I am at 49 bottles now waiting for the "one" I can't live without. I don't count my travel sizes or decants, that's probably about 30 now. I like to keep things on my wish list for awhile to make sure nothing better turns up.
That’s an excellent approach! Gabby’s new fume sounds very nice although it will probably be too sweet for me. Congratulations on having the house paid off that’s an awesome achievement ⭐️
Really interesting video and theme. Nice one, Claire! One of the big issues, in my view, is the fact that most fragrance content on RUclips is one-dimensional and focuses only on the ‘smelly water’ itself - and the acquisition of it. Which, in turn, has helped fuel the shopaholic notion that the only way to appreciate fragrance is to purchase bottles of the stuff. Fragrance isn’t just perfume; it’s a cultural phenomenon that feeds into everything from music, to art, to food. Just because you stop buying fragrances, doesn’t mean you have to stop loving or appreciating them. Buy a book on perfume, watch a film about, do a hike and bury your nose in some flowers, get to know the spices and herbs you use in cooking more intimately. Fragrance appreciation isn’t simply a matter of buying smelly water. It’s so much more than that. Shopaholics overspend on perfume; olfactory enthusiasts focus on the bigger picture.
It's also very materialistic. I was also into this addiction. Got out of it. Any addiction is unhealthy. Do we need to have 50, 100, 200 perfumes to REALLY be satisfied with our lives? It's a rhetorical question.
Very honest video. Much appreciated. Just stopped purchasing frags. I Will cherish my 125 perfumes and will be smelling great at least the next 10 years. All the best and thanx for the honesty.👌🌹
I think perspective is key. And it's easy to lose that when your in the throws of growing a collection, watching others hype fragrances, seeing new ones emerge that potentially trump the ones we have etc. The rabbit hole is real. And perspective is out the window simply because it's a fun escape, and we get to smell nice along the way. Excellent video claire, and thanks for sharing your thoughts and giving perspective 👍. This one has struck a cord. X
Thank you so much for posting this ❤ I love my fragrance..those niche fragrances especially..those lovely ‘expensive’ niche fragrances.. I try to justify my spend on a fragrance by telling myself ‘you deserve a treat..you work hard!’ But realistically, I am a single mum and admittedly terrible at managing finances..and need to learn to prioritise the important things such as rent/council tax/food/electric/gas. I’ve recently been purchasing skincare & some fragrance which I will be sending back. I follow so many influencers & I need to wake up to the fact that I am just not in their league and I am kidding myself, as it’s just not living realistically.
There are some excellent financial channels out there that can help you manage finances better. Most of us weren’t taught this at school or by parents. I recommend The Humble Penny and you’ll already know Martin Lewis Monet Saving Expert. You do really deserve all the nice things but not at the cost of the worry and stress it can bring. There’s also excellent channels on frugal living with great advice on cutting unnecessary costs. Good luck!
Hi there. Beautiful topic! I hope I will be able to write everything what’s on my mind correctly (sorry if not. I’m not natively speaking English). I have the same problem since few years now. First I was Make up buying addict. For many many years. I thought, spending every month over 100€ for make up, wanting to poses all the “new” collection stars is making me happy. Somehow while I got older, I naturally stopped it because I realised, that the big make up companies run out of ideas. If you observe carefully, you will notice that every theme is being repeated every season, every year. You know that Springtime ist Pastell coloured makeup, summer is more bronzy, autumn is dark chocolate and berries and finally Christmas is all about glitter and glamour. Since ages 😬 it became somehow boring to me and made no sense in buying further products, that all look almost identical which I will never ever be able to use up in my entire lifetime or even longer than that. Now… I have given so many things away (aka I spent my money on things I ended up giving away for free- stupid as hell) and I still have so much stuff I’m not using, but somehow I can’t let go off. Because I always think that someday I will reach for it again. It is pure madness, stupidity and unaccountable. After my makeup phase I started to spend even more money on perfumes. I think I have about 250 fragrances and here it comes - the joy of receiving new perfumes is like dopamine but just for like a day. After that you want something new. The joy is over. Blind buys- they come from the influencers that suggests you, that you probably will love this smell if you like an other one that goes in the “same” direction. The biggest problem with perfums is, they are not the same. There are so many varieties, small variations that make you wanna buy more and more, because every smell is different. The rabbit hole is getting deeper and deeper. And now I came to the conclusion, that I have soooo many perfumes that I’m confused what I should “wear” on this day. I am getting overwhelmed with it and that makes me unhappy. I love so many of these fragrances , but you can’t wear them altogether at once. It’s impossible. And because that overwhelmed me I made a commitment to myself, that I won’t be buying any new fragrances this year. I have to start to appreciate what I have to savour them. It’s hard when you watch all the perfume reviews and look at fragrantica. I think the only solution for this is to cut all the media and mayby take and read a book instead
I read this and I feel the same!! I don’t have 250 bottles( 35 actually) but I need to stop. Every year there will be a new fragrance. I need to enjoy my collection and finish at least 15.
This needed to be said. Many people are becoming too led by influencers and thinking it’s normal to own hundreds of things we don’t need. I love fragrance and I tend to stick to what I already have and layering them, and finding really reasonable hidden gems (call me cheap but literally a few £). I don’t get the hype or the price tag with a lot of these “it” fragrances after sampling them. I personally prefer travel sizes and lesser known scents (it’s all down to the quality of the juice for me- not the brand or a cool looking bottle). Whatever the cost, it should always be a considered and researched purchase. Blind buying is never a good idea and it’s just wasteful. For now what I have is more than enough. Thank you for this video x
Our fairy godmother🧚♂️ I swear you read my mind sometimes. Debt. Loans. . Etc etc. I've had to really swallow my pride and realise that it's time to stop. A certain Guerlain has been tormenting me and I've been so close to buying it. . It's so easy to just click a button. But life is just too uncertain, and Xmas around the corner. Sometimes it's nicer to want than to have xxx
I guess if the Guerlain is really worth it you would sacrifice some bottles to have it like you did with Hera? If not then it’s likely just momentary lust that’ll pass. Sometimes the desire is so intense and then the reality of finally owning it can be an anti climax xxx
@@Smurfygurly absolutely right. If it's worth it then others will be sacrificed accordingly. . But without any bloody ceremony or chanting. Just plain old ebay selling 😅
My finances are fine, but retirement savings can always be better. My biggest problem is having too much stuff. I really need to quit adding to my bloated collection. I want to only add perfumes that make my knees week. At this point, smelling nice is not enough. It needs to be amazing. I am so glad you brought this up! I need to be more disciplined, and save some money.
Great topic for a video! I have a mission as a youtuber and that is to show people that they can enjoy fragrance without getting financially ruined. Remind people that youtubers often are gifted perfumes och even given money to say positive things and might be a part of the perfume houses' marketing budget. Remind them to always try perfume before buying. Remind them of the possibility to get samples and decants instead of bottles. This video was a reminder that I should talk about this even more, so thank you! I try to include the pricepoint of fragrances that I review because it IS a factor to take into consideration, at least for most people. Also, I encourage viewers to never buy impulsively and have the patience to wait and maybe a deal will turn up secondhand or there will be a discount. I use the mantra "not now" to help me when I want a fragrance. If I can just tell myself that I can get it another day, many times I forget about that particular fragrance.
Yep, I know at times I’ll purchase a perfume just to temporarily make me feel better…sort of filling a void in my life. Spending more than my means then feeling bad for it. Need to really stop and think. Great vid Claire👍
I dislike watching videos of channels that buy a fragrance, declutter it and then re purchase it….. to declutter it again 🤦🏻♀️ it’s so off putting and definitely feeds the consumerism cycle. BTW I love this video- the reality check we all need!
They just need to copy and paste this to every community because it applies to like every....collectible thing. 😭 I only buy fragrance once every few years when I finish a few and have room for more. Like right now, I'm down to about five bottles of perfume, and am looking for about 2-3 bottles to round things out. Right now, I'm just testing samples and decants and will see what i want in a full size. But I can admit to being addicted to buying workout clothes and nail products. 😂 I manage my money pretty well and am not in debt, but I definitely could be better about saving more and spending more thoughtfully. My goal for next year is to become addicted to saving money instead. Thank you for this very important PSA! 😂
Agree! Use the money instead on food, like staples that will get you through if the grid goes down. Stock up on bottled water, canned soup and beans, rice, salt, canned fruit..be prepared. You can't eat perfume
Great video on an overlooked topic! As much as I enjoy fragrance social media, being part of the online fragrance community can trigger an urge to…BUY!! I appreciate your sensible advice.❤
I have several rules in place to prevent me from overspending on fragrance. 1) I never spend more than $30 on a perfume. If I want a fragrance that is more expensive than that, I put it on a wishlist that I give to my mother when she asks me for gift ideas. 2) I wait on purchases in one of several ways. If it might be available in my country, I keep it on my wishlist until or unless I see it at Marshall's where I work (part of the same family of companies as T.K. Maxx for those of you in the UK). If it isn't available in the US where I live, I put them on my fragrantica wish list and purchase only a few a month at the most. 3) I encourage my kids to come and sample what they want from my collection, so it is less likely to go to waste. This doesn't necessarily prevent me from buying more, but it does help me use what I have so I don't have lots of bottles going to waste. Along the same lines, I wear fragrance every single day, sometimes as many as 3 times a day (workout fragrance, throughout the day to enjoy, at bedtime to feel cozy). 4) if I can easily find a smaller bottle of a fragrance I've not bought before, I will buy that. Decants, too, are better than blind buying expensive perfume. If I love it, I can buy the bigger bottle next time, but so often by the time I run through that ounce, I am kinda done with that one unless it is a favorite. I love fragrance so much, but you don't have to buy a bunch of expensive ones to be a fraghead. By following these rules, I never go over my budget and still get to enjoy my favorite hobby.
Compulsive Bying Disorder is a real thing. Unfortunately, many YT reviewers capitalise on this weakness and specifically target the young public and other vulnerable people.
I loved this video Claire. During my recent house move I managed to get my perfumes down to a manageable (for me) 18 bottles and was feeling very smug but that hasn’t stopped me buying enough candles and skincare to open a shop. I spent all the money I made selling dozens of bottles of niche perfumes and more. Why, I have no idea. Like most places, mortgage rates and the general cost of living here in Australia is out of control. Groceries have doubled and petrol prices are outrageous and I should have been smarter with the money I made instead of wasting it. I am going to Hawaii soon and think what I could have done with that money 🤦♀️
Great topic. I set a limit to 12 perfumes, 6 for the winter and 6 for the summer, which is enough. But i chose very carefully these perfumes. If you are broke, I wouldn’t say don’t buy any perfume but just one or two for the next years. You can be broke and still enjoy perfume but chose carefully, take your time, test it, try it several times before getting it. Never ever blind buy. Even if it’s BR540 or Delina I personally dislike these perfumes even though everybody on the internet say they are amazing fragrances, I know many other frangeantes that are way better and way cheaper.
i was addicted to buying fragrances around 2010 it got really bad in the next few years. thanks god i finally realised i keep reaching for the same few bottles and woke up from the addiction wasted alot of money. i went from 60 bottles of fragrances to now 10. i only buy one bottle per year usually niche or high end mass market. i also repurchase the same fragrance that i finnish.
Thank you for this video! I am just 3 weeks in and already spend 1000 euros, some expensive ones and a lot from like Lattafa etc. Already addictive, like so many addictions I had. I need to stop filling the void for sure, it is not helping me improve my life. I did see it as a hobby , but now I cannot control myself. I ordered 2 yesterday and then 2 more from my bed! Insanity!!!! I get so influenced by mainly RUclips, even as a 51 yo male lol. Thanx again, you really made me think! I need to work on myself in so many areas, yet I do this to escape and fill the void
Really appreciate the frankness of this topic, Claire. I have bought some, not much this year. Unfortunately, veterinary bills crushed me in August, and I still had to pay all the other bills, now, my emergency monies are depleted. I don't have extra money, period. This video was a gentle reminder that I'm not missing out, so thank-you, Claire. ❤️
Videos like this remind me of how much I appreciate frag comm! There's a time for indulging and there's a time for reality check ins... Thanks Claire for the balance and reason.
I really needed to hear these words of wisdom. Even though I have no debt and am financially well, doesn't mean I should be wasting money. Realistically it's hard to use all the fragrances I already have.
FOMO is a real thing 😱 I still have to work on my expensive blind buys (even with a huge discount, that's still expensive somehow 😅) Now my golden rules are : sample more, buy travel sizes instead of full bottles when available, always wait for a discount or an occasion on a second hand bottle. The only credit I have is for my house. I never buy on credit, I know it's something common overseas but not really here. I guess French people just don't count their chickens before they're hatched 😂
Great tips here Claire. Also important to be keenly mindful of how we're being influenced by so many things in our lives. Patience is usually a good start. 😁
I’m so glad you address this subject I have 36 perfumes and it’s to many for me Paying of your mortgage is the best financial advice right now ,and will save you more money in the Long run and less risky than some investment 🤷♀️ You don’t sound condescending at all ,it’s absolutely great advice Hugs ❤
You are dead on and thank you for the reality check. I’m not in a pinch but it is ludicrous what I spend on fragrance so at the moment I have to be satisfied with my decants. And it is fun and a pure joy….there is an escalated feeling to receive my fragrance by post …. Never will I stop sniffing but with 60 plus bottles it is overwhelming. I bought right for my nose and I am happy with my collection. Getting back to you. A royal curtsy to you from the US!!
All my perfumes I bye online. And one day I calkulated in order history I spend around 1500 pound witch could be a good canarian island holiday 😁 some of them I sell on eBay. At the moment I own around 30 bottles
Thank you so much for bringing this topic up....I became addicted to spend money in perfumes... Already got nearly 90 bottles....and honestly I haven't try all of them yet...it's crazy...
I’ve stopped buying expensive perfumes except for 1 for my birthday and 1 for Christmas. I’m enjoying discovering old classics and celebrity scents: I’m enjoying Born Lovely ($10) and Stash ($40) at the moment, as well as Mediterranean ($20)by E Arden, Jovan Black Musk ($12).
This is a great video, and an important one in a scene which ultimately revolves around a consumer product. I stopped buying fragrances years ago, and during my life, I've been a vinyl addict, book addict, and (currently) a synthesiser / music gear addict. The discussions, hype, and FOMO in all those groups is precisely the same. A loss of perspective between the love of the hobby, a need to collect, and the dopamine hit of acquiring new purchases sold to you by companies who need to turn a profit. We're surrounded by images of people celebrating their latest haul, as well as the hype from companies converging with that, so the need to hoard can sometimes be inescapable. The financial pep-talk aspect of this was the most important one, I thought. It's simply not worth pushing a credit limit just to scratch a dopamine hit of buying shiny new things, which will give little relief when the finances start to bite. And for anyone that struggles with resisting that urge, restraint actually gets much easier if you persist for a short while, and actively go cold-turkey on obtaining new things. Seeing material improvements to your finances is a feeling that will last longer than any blind buy (because ultimately, you're buying yourself financial freedom).
If I have problems with money, I don't buy perfumes. Recently we have bought 2 relatably cheap parfumes and calmed down in this direction. Better live do not beneath your means. Add some frugality, but sleep calmly at nights. And my gosh 80 parfumes.... It's very very strange, bc parfumes also have an expiration date
Honestly, I feel like every fragrance RUclipsr should feel obligated to make a reality check video like yours! Any content generated to counteract the seductive call to the relentless consumption messaging is a good thing.
True. We buy too much of everything. It's something we need to start facing and deal with it without delay. Saving money should be our main objective instead 😢
Thanks for this reminder Claire 💕 I keep a journal of everything I spend on perfume, beauty, clothes, candles, non essential home stuff etc. I highly recommend doing this for anyone who has struggled with overspending, or overwhelm with bringing loads of stuff into their life. I slipped up the other day though... I impulse ordered Hypnotic Poison and Pure Poison the other day as they were 20% off and bonus Boots points. Immediately regretted it and I returned them at point of collection. I nearly always sample, and I plan my purchases, so this was so out of character for me! And you know what is crazy... I went and smelled Hypnotic Poison later on, and I didn't even want it! Pure Poison I do want to add to my collection one day but I had no need to spend on a Spring fragrance now in late October. Thanks for addressing these important points when the world is crazy (or being made crazy imo) and many youtubers are telling you "omg you NEED this!"
The journal sounds like a great idea as you’re forcing yourself to acknowledge the buying and almost getting a second opinion in a weird way. Thanks Em
@@Smurfygurly you're welcome. yep, you can't just delete the email or throw away the receipt and pretend you didn't spend that money. And the good thing is you can go back and look, see what purchases were worth it and which weren't. I also thought about doing a spreadsheet, but seeing it in my own writing makes it more impactful to me 👍
Thank you, Claire, for this video. Sometimes, it is so easy to lose track and to spend on fragrances so much more than one could actually afford. I think so many of us, fragrance addicts, went through the point or two you have mentioned. And yes, stopping and thinking it all over is necessary sometimes. I completely agree with you. Although I must point out, that living in these crazy times, little moments of pleasure sometimes are even more alluring than before.
What a great video and so eye opening. Not that I didn‘t know these things, but it helps when someone says it out loud. I am struggling with this every month. I have a massive collection (200 full bottles plus travels, decants, dupes) and we have a mortgage that seems impossible to ever pay off (thankfully fixed at the moment). And we sort of live month to month on our income. I wanted to do a low buy year but that didn‘t go as well as I had hoped. I had planned to only buy some samples here or there or even dupes to scratch that itch. And you are right, this is obsessive behavior and the curiosity to get new perfumes all the time is just so exciting that I keep thinking I need to find something that gives me that excitement without spending any money. Easier said than done. But I am determined to sort this out and pay off more on the mortgage and get away from overspending on unnecessary items. Fingers crossed. … Now I just need to find something that gives me the excitement that perfume gives me but that doesn‘t cost a fortune. Sounds like an addiction, doesn‘t it? Cos that‘s what it is. That dopamine, oh damn that dopamine.
Thank you for touching on this. I found myself softening up over the course of the video and really listening to what you had to say. I really do need to find a way to be more sensible with my perfume purchases. You are absolutely right. Bless.
You're so right Claire I've really taken stock of what I was spending and have put that cash towards something else it is shocking how much I was spending for like you say a little fix plus I've really started appreciating what I do have , Great video Claire 🙏🥰
This video is so timely, thank you. I think I’ve kinda lost control with my fragrance spending. This is the reality check that I needed, so thank you. Time to start saving more and looking towards bigger things.
Hello Claire, I think these are wise words and they are timely words for many. I think keeping perspective on what it is and what is important is key. It's not to say people can't participate and enjoy the community. Knowing what is healthy, what limits one should set for themselves and how to participate without causing harm to themselves or others is important. It can also apply to experiential things like dining out or getting take away, travel and any consumable thing. Setting boundaries and having limits is important! Thanks for your video! - Jenn
A great video! Thank you. Okay, so a simple hack for anyone with more than 2 fragrances. As background, I have around 150-200 now, collected over many years and most go months without use however, all get smelled. Gradually, I am selling them off on eBay. In the meanwhile, try this... 1) Put on the clothes for the day or look at a photo of yourself previously looking/styled the way you will on the day. 2) Take out a few or as many bottles of fragrances that you want to test. 3) Smell the top of the bottle/atomiser and inside the bottle top simultaneously whilst looking at yourself in the mirror and imagining yourself in the location you will be. 4) spray on what YOU think works best with that and go out confident that you know you have made your signature style. This will change the game and you will find yourself not needing to buy more.
Financially I can handle it, but what's the point anyway? I barely get excited when a new bottle comes in. The law of diminishing returns is REAL. How many bottles do I bloody need anyway? I'm on a slow-down when purchasing, and decluttering bottles I don't use and backups I will never need. Great video. Subbed.
Love this check in and how non-judgmental it is. I've done it all in terms of bad financial moves, starting with maxing out credit cards in college and then taking a decade to pay them all off. I no longer carry credit card debt and have been saving like a squirrel for winter since it feels like everything in my country is about to collapse. A switch flipped earlier this year and I'm in full savings mode. And it feels wonderful. 🐿
Well said. I hope to see more videos like this. Getting into fragrances is so addictive! I sold most of mine and only kept my favourites. I feel so much better about myself. I was going though a hard time in my life when my 'hobby' started. It easierly gets out of hand quickly. Sometimes we need to have a long hard look in the mirror.
I absolutely love trying fragrances, it's been a passion of mine for years. Thankfully, I'm satisfied with a small sample and very rarely buy a full bottle. I have fewer than ten bottles in my collection. Plan to keep it that way. It's so easy to get sucked into the appeal and gratification of buying new perfumes. It becomes an addiction like anything else.
Great video! I have around 50 bottles and I can't spray them all every day😢 so...I always loved the idea of signature perfume and I realized that I love Chanel perfumes the most. So...why shouldn't I have only few Chanels? Oooh than I think what about winter...what will I use then? Oooh what about dates? Meaby I need somerhing strong...something gourmand... Is Chanel good option for all ocations in my life...What if I stop smelling it on myself because I wear the same peefume....and the madness is there...😅
Well, I always buy used or discounted perfumes. I’ve never bought a perfume from a shop and I have over 200 scents in my collection. Also I don’t buy designer bags or jewellery as I don’t wear them. I also keep the same budget for each month and I sometimes sell the perfume I don’t use as much and then buy a new one which I’m an interested in. I never used a credit card or overdraft so I think I’m still OK. 😅
Don’t fall in love with the bottles! Get travel sizes first. That way, if you hate it, not a big loss. If you love it, you have time to buy the bigger one.
thank you! this video means a lot, for me it's something that is started really throttling my progress in my finances . I have some goals I'm trying to get to financially and after black Friday this year I really got stuck getting a bunch of frags, and I'm not making the funds I need to bring my goals to fruition, a lot of it has been that "fear of missing out" when I see frags getting too much hype and going up in price or frags that are going discontinued and I don't wanna miss out on that fragrance. I'm sort of in the same boat as you, I'm already have about 80 or 90 bottles and so much of it is so redundant to have so many frags that serve the same purpose. thank you bringing awareness Ill do my best to be responsible and really put a real effort. and I wish that strength to get our hobby under control back at you.
I’ve cut down because of menopause with hormonal changes. Now I just keep what I grab the most and also clean and free of chemicals fragrances that don’t irritate my allergies in this new stage as I transition to menopause. Keep the collection small that works well. Only buy if need new refill when fragrance bottle runs out.
This was happening with makeup too 10 years ago. Then everyone stopped with the massive buying. Now the world has become even worse...price of fragrances are becoming very high and cost of living is insane and I am afraid it will get worse, so an emergency fund is obbligatory. What I find wonderfull is that, unlike makeup and skincare, with fragrances you can always sample! If you have more then 40 or even 10 fragrances then sampling and wearing that fragrances from time to time it's a good idea. But I know it is not the same thing as to buy the whole bottle with all the presentetion of packaging, surely it does not give the same endorphinic satisfaction. Like with all "addiction". Also I cry for planet earth with all the waste and many matirials used i perfumery are not sustainable anymore so why buy and buy and buy and left them to rot there on shelf 😢
Thank you for the video! I was starting with this addiction Buying one fragrance per month And when I reached the eighteenth bottle I just started thinking "Is this normal? Or will I at least wear out these perfumes in less than 5 years?"
Thoughtful and timely topic. I'm doing an inventory of my many samples on an Excel spreadsheet.😅Keeps me occupied. Its kind of unbelievable how fragrance houses and the online distributors here in the US are raising prices at this time. I'm curious to know how the smaller houses are going to fare.
Thank you so much for this "check in." It means a lot to hear all of this and can identify with many of these points. More discussion like this is so important and as enthusiasts in this community, we should show compassion and sensitivity to others who may be in the midst of a struggle or an addiction. We all have the potential to be in this position as buyers and collectors. My regards to you!
Yes it’s so true, it’s not something to be judgemental about as it affects so many especially in these last few years where there’s been so much sadness, frustration and uncertainty, it’s no wonder people turn to retail therapy. Plus scent stimulates our senses which I think why we become obsessed. Thanks for watching JJ!
Amazing topic. You were soooo help ful. Basically we never stop to enjoy what we've already got. And the FOMO thing, great to remember every day. Patience is underrated. We need to calm down and reflexion. Excellent post.
Such a good reminder. I’ve been trying to avoid this subject for a while! I’m wondering if it’s the collecting I love as much as the smells. The idea of a new smell is so addictive and I have tons of samples untouched. I’m going to see if just enjoying my current collection is enough for me….should tell me a lot about myself
I think it’s the thrill of the chase. I get excited researching a fragrance then hunting for the best price. I can spend hours doing this. Enjoy your samples, they’re about to multiply!
Great tips Claire! I realized I was impulsive too but have put a stop on it for the rest of the year. I’ve decluttered a lot and still have a 100 bottles still 😂😂
Good advice in the current situation. There’s always some nasty financial surprise round the corner and if it’s not the Government tanking our savings and hiking mortgages it’s the ‘shit happens’ principal. I just sold some stuff thinking way-hey quids in! And then I promptly stepped on my own expensive glasses and destroyed them and I didn’t have accidental damage on my insurance…Also it’s good to keep a ‘wants’ list and keep it small and updated then wait to see how long you really want to buy that particular fragrance for. Hang fire for a bargain. I keep spreadsheets so I know exactly where my money is going. Bit anal but I’m on a pension.
So so good!! I love fragrance and would love to buy more because it’s fun and I love exploring new fragrances but I just can’t justify buying bottle after bottle!!! I think if I weren’t on RUclips I would have 15-20 Max We just had to renew our mortgage and it’s now an extra $400!!! Just sucks!! Anyway, great topic and sensible thoughts!
Thank you so much for your advice. I feel like this video was 100% for me. This year I look forward to scaling back on my purchases and finding more joy in discovering the parfumes I already own. Have a blessed day.
Thank you so much for this necessary video. It was a reality check for me. I was so good for a long time...and then I started watching fragrance reviews again. Next, I started chasing that moment of joy when the fragrance arrives and I first smell it and then wear it...Oh, the joy! I have over 100 bottles and most to be honest, I don't wear. I think I'm a collector more of memories than actual fragrance. Each bottle holds a memory for me...something I can hold on to and experience. I need that! Yes...but not at the expense of my financial wellness. I just bought my last bottle. I am on a no-buy for the next six months until my birthday. I'm waiting for my last bottle to be delivered. For my birthday, I will allow myself to indulge :) PS: I absolutely LOVE your wallpaper!
@@cianamarshall8236 That's a great plan. How many bottles for each occasion? My birthday coming up in May. I Winston to buy something I adore, something really special.
@Cynthia Ava So is mine, I think my budget only really allows for 1 or 2 bottles plus a couple of samples to evaluate before the next purchase. Right now, I'm focusing on finding a vanilla I like. Then I'll move on to the next note, maybe jasmine or orange blossom 🤔
Yeah honestly listening to the frag community is.. misleading. A lot of the fragrances they mention are NOT worth the money & most perfumes have the same scent profile and smell like one another. I recommend getting samples and decants and fragrances that you absolutely love should only be added to your collection.
Such an interesting topic and I am very guilty of this... love buying new fragrances, it can very easily become a big addiction! Love your videos, listening to you feels like having a chat with a friend! Xx
Well done for posting. Yes, I have already TOO many fragrances. Near 80. That IS enough...... and some. Most of all of my fragrances are FULL bottles. I err not on the side of 1/2 bottles, (50ml). Yes, I have enough to LAST ME FOR ALL THE REST OF MY DAYS. Control and patience. --> a question to ask BEFORE purchase '' do I really NEED '' to make this purchase ?
Love this topic. This is a good wake up call before it get out of hand. I have like 10 perfumes and i think i would start to learn to appreciate what I have now than buying another bottle
I have spent a lot of money in a two-and-a-half month period. I realized then how long it would take me to empty all the bottles and decided not to buy any fragrance for quite a while (years). I have a collection of 40 bottles. That’s quite a lot for a person only.
Hello - great video to help us ground ourselves a little! I've tried pulling back a lot recently too, but there are always temptations. Back-up bottles can eat a lot of cash as can seeking older formulations of things out of curiosity (done that many times!) FOMO and hype are buggers and it takes effort to resist but if you can do it, it makes all the difference. Tried to watch a bit less content as well and enjoy it more now when I do watch something, which is a bit weird! Thanks again Claire - take care! 😊
Yes, yes, yes and … yes. I’m definitely team overwhelmed here 😂 and I don’t have any plans to purchase a fragrance in the near future. I used to be team FOMO, but once you consciously make the decision not to buy the limited edition to have that complete collection, it is definitely easier the next time temptation strikes. That’s a very important video, Claire!
Thanks Andreas you’ve been doing so well since you made your decision to stop /slow down, think I’ll be on a slow buy from now on with much more thought applied.
I am very thankful and impressed that you took it upon yourself to bring some of the World’s economic dilemmas front and center. Our realities are changing whether we accept it or not. Thank you for this needed PSA. That’s very MINDFUL of you.
Great video Claire! Please consider doing more content like this, as in not necessarily fragrance reviews but related to the other parts of fragrance collecting that most people don’t talk about.
I just bought three bottles and I'm ready to buy another one😮😅 let the fun begin I love aromatherapy I Can't Get Enough makes me so happy it's like love in a bottle❤❤
The addiction is real and so much fun! My spending has slowed down a lot and I will declutter ones I'm not reaching for to buy or compensate one I've just bought! I now only buy from a really good dupe house, it's so much cheaper. Great topic Claire ❤️
We need wise words like yours in these crazy uncertain times :) .You are SO right about patience. And acceptance that we won't be able to smell, let alone own every perfume (I work hard on my FOMO!). And organization : personal reviews leading to ranked wishlists, and budgeting. No blind buy for me, only, very rarely, "semi blind buy" if I have only smelled something once and found it interesting. I have recently bought 3 bottles of niche perfumes in 2 months because the promotions were interesting ... therefore one of them will be my Christmas gift, and I'm on a no buy till january 😬
After watch your video again, I decided to do a count , definitely I'm not pleased to where I had reach , so far I'm going hold on to myself to the max
Actually, that's a good idea. Even like local meet once a month groups would be nice. You make a list of all the things you own. A list of things you want to try and then you can swap decants with each other. Or even like, "I have 'Pure Poison' that I don't want anymore, would like 'Idol Aura.'" Then somebody who doesn't want their Idol Aura but wants a Pure Poison can hook up with you and you swap. Personally, I don't ever pay full price for perfume. I get on Mercari and wait for that steal. Like I have a bottle of Idol Aura. It was 1/6 gone and the cap had a broken piece so the person was selling it for like 40 bucks. SOLD. I am never going to go through the entire bottle within a reasonable amount of time due to the fact that I have about 11 perfumes. And a broken cap isn't hurting my perfume. I keep my perfumes in a drawer anyways. I think that's some of the issue. People want a brand new shiny bottle. I mean, sure, but how many times you gonna have people in your bedroom checking out that shelf? A number so close to 0 to me, I'll take the deal because I care about wearing it.I also see these perfume reviewers who have over 300 fragrances. Okay. But let's be real. How many fragrances have you've smelled in your lifetime and been like, "ooooo, that's gorgeous and SO ME!" I own 11 fragrances at the moment and I can tell you it hasn't been 11 times. LOL. Nuff said. If we were all honest 3-10 MAX is what you should have. And 10 is pushing it.
I love the topic. Thank you for discussing this. I love watching fragrance content on RUclips, but I have to admit, it does make me prone to overspending. In the fragrance community, it seems to be normalised to own fifty bottles of perfume. Or a hundred. But let's stay realistic here, I don't think it's normal to own that amount of fragrances as a regular customer. I feel like a lot of people tend to think it's reasonable to buy more, because the RUclipsr they watch has way more. So owning excessive collections starts to feel normal. It's a slippery slope.
Yes that’s such a good point!
Basically we buy to use and enjoy thrm, but if we count the time that takes to spend a bottle and multiply the bottles we have, probably we need 10/20/ 30 years to use them. It's a madness. Maybe our coleccions survives us.
For sure. Most people I know only own 1 or 2. Some people don't own any. I have around 7 bottles, but there was a time in my life when I owned a lot more. I have a wishlist in my mind and when I run out of one fragrance, I replace it with something in my wishlist. I usually buy a smaller quantity like 50ml so that it's enough to give the fragrance some love, but not enough to get tired of it. I've noticed that I have a few main categories I like: Citrus, fruity, vanilla. If I have two in each category, that's enough for whatever mood I'm in!
Honestly don't think this gets talked about enough, Claire.
Thank you for the video.
Cheers Pep!
Good reminder. I live a debt free life, even paid off my home. How I got there was always watching my finances. I have only spent $600 on fragrances so far this year. I always sample and often after trying it for a few days I find I can live without it. I only buy the ones I am crazy in love with. However, I am watching the Navitus release from Gabby (almost hoping it is close to my "Over the Chocolate Shop" so I can resist). I decided a year ago to stop at 50 bottles (30 ml or larger). I've stuck to that as I am at 49 bottles now waiting for the "one" I can't live without. I don't count my travel sizes or decants, that's probably about 30 now. I like to keep things on my wish list for awhile to make sure nothing better turns up.
Very disciplined approach 👍🏾
That’s an excellent approach! Gabby’s new fume sounds very nice although it will probably be too sweet for me. Congratulations on having the house paid off that’s an awesome achievement ⭐️
Really interesting video and theme. Nice one, Claire!
One of the big issues, in my view, is the fact that most fragrance content on RUclips is one-dimensional and focuses only on the ‘smelly water’ itself - and the acquisition of it. Which, in turn, has helped fuel the shopaholic notion that the only way to appreciate fragrance is to purchase bottles of the stuff.
Fragrance isn’t just perfume; it’s a cultural phenomenon that feeds into everything from music, to art, to food.
Just because you stop buying fragrances, doesn’t mean you have to stop loving or appreciating them.
Buy a book on perfume, watch a film about, do a hike and bury your nose in some flowers, get to know the spices and herbs you use in cooking more intimately.
Fragrance appreciation isn’t simply a matter of buying smelly water. It’s so much more than that. Shopaholics overspend on perfume; olfactory enthusiasts focus on the bigger picture.
Yes! It’s an art - and can be appreciated in SO many ways
I love your suggestion to smell spices, flowers, to read books about perdume, etc. Time to get out of this shopping addiction
It's also very materialistic. I was also into this addiction. Got out of it. Any addiction is unhealthy. Do we need to have 50, 100, 200 perfumes to REALLY be satisfied with our lives? It's a rhetorical question.
mAteRIaLiStIc
Nope,not at all...
how many do you own now?
@@kelb-wz2vi 5 perfumes and they are all dupes or extra cheap. Thank God for that ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏🙏
Nah its never enough !! I currently own 178 bottles from cheap to super expensive and they are all my babies !
Very honest video. Much appreciated. Just stopped purchasing frags. I Will cherish my 125 perfumes and will be smelling great at least the next 10 years. All the best and thanx for the honesty.👌🌹
I think perspective is key. And it's easy to lose that when your in the throws of growing a collection, watching others hype fragrances, seeing new ones emerge that potentially trump the ones we have etc. The rabbit hole is real. And perspective is out the window simply because it's a fun escape, and we get to smell nice along the way.
Excellent video claire, and thanks for sharing your thoughts and giving perspective 👍. This one has struck a cord. X
Thanks LB that rabbit hole is real! xx
Thank you so much for posting this ❤
I love my fragrance..those niche fragrances especially..those lovely ‘expensive’ niche fragrances..
I try to justify my spend on a fragrance by telling myself ‘you deserve a treat..you work hard!’
But realistically, I am a single mum and admittedly terrible at managing finances..and need to learn to prioritise the important things such as rent/council tax/food/electric/gas.
I’ve recently been purchasing skincare & some fragrance which I will be sending back.
I follow so many influencers & I need to wake up to the fact that I am just not in their league and I am kidding myself, as it’s just not living realistically.
There are some excellent financial channels out there that can help you manage finances better. Most of us weren’t taught this at school or by parents. I recommend The Humble Penny and you’ll already know Martin Lewis Monet Saving Expert. You do really deserve all the nice things but not at the cost of the worry and stress it can bring. There’s also excellent channels on frugal living with great advice on cutting unnecessary costs. Good luck!
Hi there. Beautiful topic! I hope I will be able to write everything what’s on my mind correctly (sorry if not. I’m not natively speaking English). I have the same problem since few years now. First I was Make up buying addict. For many many years. I thought, spending every month over 100€ for make up, wanting to poses all the “new” collection stars is making me happy. Somehow while I got older, I naturally stopped it because I realised, that the big make up companies run out of ideas. If you observe carefully, you will notice that every theme is being repeated every season, every year. You know that Springtime ist Pastell coloured makeup, summer is more bronzy, autumn is dark chocolate and berries and finally Christmas is all about glitter and glamour. Since ages 😬 it became somehow boring to me and made no sense in buying further products, that all look almost identical which I will never ever be able to use up in my entire lifetime or even longer than that. Now… I have given so many things away (aka I spent my money on things I ended up giving away for free- stupid as hell) and I still have so much stuff I’m not using, but somehow I can’t let go off. Because I always think that someday I will reach for it again. It is pure madness, stupidity and unaccountable.
After my makeup phase I started to spend even more money on perfumes. I think I have about 250 fragrances and here it comes - the joy of receiving new perfumes is like dopamine but just for like a day. After that you want something new. The joy is over. Blind buys- they come from the influencers that suggests you, that you probably will love this smell if you like an other one that goes in the “same” direction. The biggest problem with perfums is, they are not the same. There are so many varieties, small variations that make you wanna buy more and more, because every smell is different. The rabbit hole is getting deeper and deeper.
And now I came to the conclusion, that I have soooo many perfumes that I’m confused what I should “wear” on this day. I am getting overwhelmed with it and that makes me unhappy. I love so many of these fragrances , but you can’t wear them altogether at once. It’s impossible. And because that overwhelmed me I made a commitment to myself, that I won’t be buying any new fragrances this year. I have to start to appreciate what I have to savour them. It’s hard when you watch all the perfume reviews and look at fragrantica. I think the only solution for this is to cut all the media and mayby take and read a book instead
I read this and I feel the same!! I don’t have 250 bottles( 35 actually) but I need to stop. Every year there will be a new fragrance. I need to enjoy my collection and finish at least 15.
This needed to be said. Many people are becoming too led by influencers and thinking it’s normal to own hundreds of things we don’t need. I love fragrance and I tend to stick to what I already have and layering them, and finding really reasonable hidden gems (call me cheap but literally a few £). I don’t get the hype or the price tag with a lot of these “it” fragrances after sampling them. I personally prefer travel sizes and lesser known scents (it’s all down to the quality of the juice for me- not the brand or a cool looking bottle). Whatever the cost, it should always be a considered and researched purchase. Blind buying is never a good idea and it’s just wasteful. For now what I have is more than enough. Thank you for this video x
Rent, mortgage, council tax, utilities, furbabies, food, then anything else is a bunce. That's always my list
Bunce! 😂 not heard that in years
Our fairy godmother🧚♂️
I swear you read my mind sometimes.
Debt. Loans. . Etc etc. I've had to really swallow my pride and realise that it's time to stop.
A certain Guerlain has been tormenting me and I've been so close to buying it. . It's so easy to just click a button. But life is just too uncertain, and Xmas around the corner.
Sometimes it's nicer to want than to have xxx
I guess if the Guerlain is really worth it you would sacrifice some bottles to have it like you did with Hera? If not then it’s likely just momentary lust that’ll pass. Sometimes the desire is so intense and then the reality of finally owning it can be an anti climax xxx
@@Smurfygurly absolutely right. If it's worth it then others will be sacrificed accordingly. . But without any bloody ceremony or chanting. Just plain old ebay selling 😅
not a subject I expected from a youtuber but some of us need to hear it. experiencing frag brings me joy but my peace of mind is more important
Peace of mind is the ultimate prize, it doesn’t sound particularly exciting but it’s the perfect state to be in.
My finances are fine, but retirement savings can always be better. My biggest problem is having too much stuff. I really need to quit adding to my bloated collection. I want to only add perfumes that make my knees week. At this point, smelling nice is not enough. It needs to be amazing. I am so glad you brought this up! I need to be more disciplined, and save some money.
The thing is, while it's cool to save up for retirement, who knows how long you live? It's also important to enjoy life while you're younger.
Great topic for a video! I have a mission as a youtuber and that is to show people that they can enjoy fragrance without getting financially ruined. Remind people that youtubers often are gifted perfumes och even given money to say positive things and might be a part of the perfume houses' marketing budget. Remind them to always try perfume before buying. Remind them of the possibility to get samples and decants instead of bottles. This video was a reminder that I should talk about this even more, so thank you! I try to include the pricepoint of fragrances that I review because it IS a factor to take into consideration, at least for most people. Also, I encourage viewers to never buy impulsively and have the patience to wait and maybe a deal will turn up secondhand or there will be a discount. I use the mantra "not now" to help me when I want a fragrance. If I can just tell myself that I can get it another day, many times I forget about that particular fragrance.
Subscribed to your channel. This Thank you for your honesty. Will be watching you soon💪
Yep, I know at times I’ll purchase a perfume just to temporarily make me feel better…sort of filling a void in my life. Spending more than my means then feeling bad for it. Need to really stop and think. Great vid Claire👍
I dislike watching videos of channels that buy a fragrance, declutter it and then re purchase it….. to declutter it again 🤦🏻♀️ it’s so off putting and definitely feeds the consumerism cycle.
BTW I love this video- the reality check we all need!
Thank you!!
They just need to copy and paste this to every community because it applies to like every....collectible thing. 😭
I only buy fragrance once every few years when I finish a few and have room for more. Like right now, I'm down to about five bottles of perfume, and am looking for about 2-3 bottles to round things out. Right now, I'm just testing samples and decants and will see what i want in a full size.
But I can admit to being addicted to buying workout clothes and nail products. 😂
I manage my money pretty well and am not in debt, but I definitely could be better about saving more and spending more thoughtfully.
My goal for next year is to become addicted to saving money instead. Thank you for this very important PSA! 😂
Thank you and good luck! I find the financial advice videos on RUclips really helpful to keep me motivated ❤️
Agree! Use the money instead on food, like staples that will get you through if the grid goes down. Stock up on bottled water, canned soup and beans, rice, salt, canned fruit..be prepared. You can't eat perfume
Great video on an overlooked topic! As much as I enjoy fragrance social media, being part of the online fragrance community can trigger an urge to…BUY!!
I appreciate your sensible advice.❤
I have several rules in place to prevent me from overspending on fragrance. 1) I never spend more than $30 on a perfume. If I want a fragrance that is more expensive than that, I put it on a wishlist that I give to my mother when she asks me for gift ideas. 2) I wait on purchases in one of several ways. If it might be available in my country, I keep it on my wishlist until or unless I see it at Marshall's where I work (part of the same family of companies as T.K. Maxx for those of you in the UK). If it isn't available in the US where I live, I put them on my fragrantica wish list and purchase only a few a month at the most. 3) I encourage my kids to come and sample what they want from my collection, so it is less likely to go to waste. This doesn't necessarily prevent me from buying more, but it does help me use what I have so I don't have lots of bottles going to waste. Along the same lines, I wear fragrance every single day, sometimes as many as 3 times a day (workout fragrance, throughout the day to enjoy, at bedtime to feel cozy). 4) if I can easily find a smaller bottle of a fragrance I've not bought before, I will buy that. Decants, too, are better than blind buying expensive perfume. If I love it, I can buy the bigger bottle next time, but so often by the time I run through that ounce, I am kinda done with that one unless it is a favorite.
I love fragrance so much, but you don't have to buy a bunch of expensive ones to be a fraghead. By following these rules, I never go over my budget and still get to enjoy my favorite hobby.
Compulsive Bying Disorder is a real thing. Unfortunately, many YT reviewers capitalise on this weakness and specifically target the young public and other vulnerable people.
So true
I loved this video Claire. During my recent house move I managed to get my perfumes down to a manageable (for me) 18 bottles and was feeling very smug but that hasn’t stopped me buying enough candles and skincare to open a shop. I spent all the money I made selling dozens of bottles of niche perfumes and more. Why, I have no idea. Like most places, mortgage rates and the general cost of living here in Australia is out of control. Groceries have doubled and petrol prices are outrageous and I should have been smarter with the money I made instead of wasting it. I am going to Hawaii soon and think what I could have done with that money 🤦♀️
Yes that moment is fleeting, retail therapy is a problem for many. And I see teens developing this at younger and younger ages.
Great topic. I set a limit to 12 perfumes, 6 for the winter and 6 for the summer, which is enough. But i chose very carefully these perfumes. If you are broke, I wouldn’t say don’t buy any perfume but just one or two for the next years. You can be broke and still enjoy perfume but chose carefully, take your time, test it, try it several times before getting it. Never ever blind buy. Even if it’s BR540 or Delina I personally dislike these perfumes even though everybody on the internet say they are amazing fragrances, I know many other frangeantes that are way better and way cheaper.
Really good points there!
i was addicted to buying fragrances around 2010 it got really bad in the next few years. thanks god i finally realised i keep reaching for the same few bottles and woke up from the addiction wasted alot of money. i went from 60 bottles of fragrances to now 10. i only buy one bottle per year usually niche or high end mass market. i also repurchase the same fragrance that i finnish.
Thank you for this video! I am just 3 weeks in and already spend 1000 euros, some expensive ones and a lot from like Lattafa etc. Already addictive, like so many addictions I had. I need to stop filling the void for sure, it is not helping me improve my life. I did see it as a hobby , but now I cannot control myself. I ordered 2 yesterday and then 2 more from my bed! Insanity!!!! I get so influenced by mainly RUclips, even as a 51 yo male lol.
Thanx again, you really made me think!
I need to work on myself in so many areas, yet I do this to escape and fill the void
Really appreciate the frankness of this topic, Claire. I have bought some, not much this year. Unfortunately, veterinary bills crushed me in August, and I still had to pay all the other bills, now, my emergency monies are depleted. I don't have extra money, period.
This video was a gentle reminder that I'm not missing out, so thank-you, Claire. ❤️
Videos like this remind me of how much I appreciate frag comm! There's a time for indulging and there's a time for reality check ins... Thanks Claire for the balance and reason.
That’s a lovely comment! Thanks for watching ❤️
I just love perfumes so much! 😊 But I definitely agree with you. I’m guilty of overspending on fragrances and bags … need to do better financially.
I really needed to hear these words of wisdom. Even though I have no debt and am financially well, doesn't mean I should be wasting money. Realistically it's hard to use all the fragrances I already have.
Thanks for watching and yes wasted money is sad regardless of circumstances.
FOMO is a real thing 😱
I still have to work on my expensive blind buys (even with a huge discount, that's still expensive somehow 😅)
Now my golden rules are : sample more, buy travel sizes instead of full bottles when available, always wait for a discount or an occasion on a second hand bottle.
The only credit I have is for my house. I never buy on credit, I know it's something common overseas but not really here. I guess French people just don't count their chickens before they're hatched 😂
Great tips here Claire. Also important to be keenly mindful of how we're being influenced by so many things in our lives. Patience is usually a good start. 😁
Thanks Don and too true!
I’m so glad you address this subject
I have 36 perfumes and it’s to many for me
Paying of your mortgage is the best financial advice right now ,and will save you more money in the Long run and less risky than some investment 🤷♀️
You don’t sound condescending at all ,it’s absolutely great advice
Hugs ❤
Thanks Frances ❤️
You are dead on and thank you for the reality check. I’m not in a pinch but it is ludicrous what I spend on fragrance so at the moment I have to be satisfied with my decants. And it is fun and a pure joy….there is an escalated feeling to receive my fragrance by post …. Never will I stop sniffing but with 60 plus bottles it is overwhelming. I bought right for my nose and I am happy with my collection. Getting back to you. A royal curtsy to you from the US!!
Thank you! (Curtsys back)
All my perfumes I bye online. And one day I calkulated in order history I spend around 1500 pound witch could be a good canarian island holiday 😁 some of them I sell on eBay. At the moment I own around 30 bottles
Thank you so much for bringing this topic up....I became addicted to spend money in perfumes... Already got nearly 90 bottles....and honestly I haven't try all of them yet...it's crazy...
I’ve stopped buying expensive perfumes except for 1 for my birthday and 1 for Christmas.
I’m enjoying discovering old classics and celebrity scents: I’m enjoying Born Lovely ($10) and Stash ($40) at the moment, as well as Mediterranean ($20)by E Arden, Jovan Black Musk ($12).
You absolutely don’t need to spend much to smell good, Stash is fantastic
This is a great video, and an important one in a scene which ultimately revolves around a consumer product. I stopped buying fragrances years ago, and during my life, I've been a vinyl addict, book addict, and (currently) a synthesiser / music gear addict. The discussions, hype, and FOMO in all those groups is precisely the same. A loss of perspective between the love of the hobby, a need to collect, and the dopamine hit of acquiring new purchases sold to you by companies who need to turn a profit. We're surrounded by images of people celebrating their latest haul, as well as the hype from companies converging with that, so the need to hoard can sometimes be inescapable.
The financial pep-talk aspect of this was the most important one, I thought. It's simply not worth pushing a credit limit just to scratch a dopamine hit of buying shiny new things, which will give little relief when the finances start to bite. And for anyone that struggles with resisting that urge, restraint actually gets much easier if you persist for a short while, and actively go cold-turkey on obtaining new things. Seeing material improvements to your finances is a feeling that will last longer than any blind buy (because ultimately, you're buying yourself financial freedom).
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts Luke, great advice here.
Right, I love that since I decided to no longer spend money on hobbies, I actually have an emergency fund. Granted, it's small, but it's growing.
If I have problems with money, I don't buy perfumes. Recently we have bought 2 relatably cheap parfumes and calmed down in this direction. Better live do not beneath your means. Add some frugality, but sleep calmly at nights. And my gosh 80 parfumes.... It's very very strange, bc parfumes also have an expiration date
Honestly, I feel like every fragrance RUclipsr should feel obligated to make a reality check video like yours! Any content generated to counteract the seductive call to the relentless consumption messaging is a good thing.
True. We buy too much of everything. It's something we need to start facing and deal with it without delay. Saving money should be our main objective instead 😢
Thanks for this reminder Claire 💕
I keep a journal of everything I spend on perfume, beauty, clothes, candles, non essential home stuff etc. I highly recommend doing this for anyone who has struggled with overspending, or overwhelm with bringing loads of stuff into their life.
I slipped up the other day though... I impulse ordered Hypnotic Poison and Pure Poison the other day as they were 20% off and bonus Boots points. Immediately regretted it and I returned them at point of collection.
I nearly always sample, and I plan my purchases, so this was so out of character for me! And you know what is crazy... I went and smelled Hypnotic Poison later on, and I didn't even want it! Pure Poison I do want to add to my collection one day but I had no need to spend on a Spring fragrance now in late October.
Thanks for addressing these important points when the world is crazy (or being made crazy imo) and many youtubers are telling you "omg you NEED this!"
The journal sounds like a great idea as you’re forcing yourself to acknowledge the buying and almost getting a second opinion in a weird way. Thanks Em
@@Smurfygurly you're welcome. yep, you can't just delete the email or throw away the receipt and pretend you didn't spend that money. And the good thing is you can go back and look, see what purchases were worth it and which weren't. I also thought about doing a spreadsheet, but seeing it in my own writing makes it more impactful to me 👍
Thank you, Claire, for this video. Sometimes, it is so easy to lose track and to spend on fragrances so much more than one could actually afford. I think so many of us, fragrance addicts, went through the point or two you have mentioned. And yes, stopping and thinking it all over is necessary sometimes. I completely agree with you. Although I must point out, that living in these crazy times, little moments of pleasure sometimes are even more alluring than before.
What a great video and so eye opening. Not that I didn‘t know these things, but it helps when someone says it out loud. I am struggling with this every month. I have a massive collection (200 full bottles plus travels, decants, dupes) and we have a mortgage that seems impossible to ever pay off (thankfully fixed at the moment). And we sort of live month to month on our income. I wanted to do a low buy year but that didn‘t go as well as I had hoped. I had planned to only buy some samples here or there or even dupes to scratch that itch. And you are right, this is obsessive behavior and the curiosity to get new perfumes all the time is just so exciting that I keep thinking I need to find something that gives me that excitement without spending any money. Easier said than done. But I am determined to sort this out and pay off more on the mortgage and get away from overspending on unnecessary items. Fingers crossed. … Now I just need to find something that gives me the excitement that perfume gives me but that doesn‘t cost a fortune. Sounds like an addiction, doesn‘t it? Cos that‘s what it is. That dopamine, oh damn that dopamine.
The algorithm got me here before I bought my first fragrance but after I’d deep dived into research. Amazing food for thought, appreciated.
Thank you for touching on this. I found myself softening up over the course of the video and really listening to what you had to say. I really do need to find a way to be more sensible with my perfume purchases. You are absolutely right. Bless.
You're so right Claire I've really taken stock of what I was spending and have put that cash towards something else it is shocking how much I was spending for like you say a little fix plus I've really started appreciating what I do have , Great video Claire 🙏🥰
Good to hear Scott, it can really get out of hand. 🥰
This video is so timely, thank you. I think I’ve kinda lost control with my fragrance spending. This is the reality check that I needed, so thank you. Time to start saving more and looking towards bigger things.
Good luck! 🍀
Hello Claire,
I think these are wise words and they are timely words for many. I think keeping perspective on what it is and what is important is key. It's not to say people can't participate and enjoy the community. Knowing what is healthy, what limits one should set for themselves and how to participate without causing harm to themselves or others is important. It can also apply to experiential things like dining out or getting take away, travel and any consumable thing. Setting boundaries and having limits is important! Thanks for your video! - Jenn
Well said. I have like a months full of samples to get through. Still … its like I just want these few more, and then, these few more
Treat perfumes as a luxury
A great video! Thank you. Okay, so a simple hack for anyone with more than 2 fragrances. As background, I have around 150-200 now, collected over many years and most go months without use however, all get smelled. Gradually, I am selling them off on eBay. In the meanwhile, try this...
1) Put on the clothes for the day or look at a photo of yourself previously looking/styled the way you will on the day.
2) Take out a few or as many bottles of fragrances that you want to test.
3) Smell the top of the bottle/atomiser and inside the bottle top simultaneously whilst looking at yourself in the mirror and imagining yourself in the location you will be.
4) spray on what YOU think works best with that and go out confident that you know you have made your signature style.
This will change the game and you will find yourself not needing to buy more.
Financially I can handle it, but what's the point anyway? I barely get excited when a new bottle comes in. The law of diminishing returns is REAL. How many bottles do I bloody need anyway? I'm on a slow-down when purchasing, and decluttering bottles I don't use and backups I will never need. Great video. Subbed.
If the excitement has faded then that’s definitely a sign to slow down, good decision and thanks for the sub Manly.
Love this check in and how non-judgmental it is. I've done it all in terms of bad financial moves, starting with maxing out credit cards in college and then taking a decade to pay them all off. I no longer carry credit card debt and have been saving like a squirrel for winter since it feels like everything in my country is about to collapse. A switch flipped earlier this year and I'm in full savings mode. And it feels wonderful. 🐿
Thank you and good for you! It does feel good to save, peace of mind that you’re safe is priceless ❤️
Well said. I hope to see more videos like this. Getting into fragrances is so addictive! I sold most of mine and only kept my favourites. I feel so much better about myself. I was going though a hard time in my life when my 'hobby' started. It easierly gets out of hand quickly. Sometimes we need to have a long hard look in the mirror.
I absolutely love trying fragrances, it's been a passion of mine for years. Thankfully, I'm satisfied with a small sample and very rarely buy a full bottle. I have fewer than ten bottles in my collection. Plan to keep it that way. It's so easy to get sucked into the appeal and gratification of buying new perfumes. It becomes an addiction like anything else.
Great video! I have around 50 bottles and I can't spray them all every day😢 so...I always loved the idea of signature perfume and I realized that I love Chanel perfumes the most. So...why shouldn't I have only few Chanels? Oooh than I think what about winter...what will I use then? Oooh what about dates? Meaby I need somerhing strong...something gourmand... Is Chanel good option for all ocations in my life...What if I stop smelling it on myself because I wear the same peefume....and the madness is there...😅
Also recommend buying small bottles
Well, I always buy used or discounted perfumes. I’ve never bought a perfume from a shop and I have over 200 scents in my collection. Also I don’t buy designer bags or jewellery as I don’t wear them. I also keep the same budget for each month and I sometimes sell the perfume I don’t use as much and then buy a new one which I’m an interested in. I never used a credit card or overdraft so I think I’m still OK. 😅
You’re good!!
How do you buy them or sell them?
Don’t fall in love with the bottles! Get travel sizes first. That way, if you hate it, not a big loss. If you love it, you have time to buy the bigger one.
What a wonderful reminder to all of us to enjoy what we have and avoid the addiction to buying new scents. Thank you, Claire!
Thanks for watching!
thank you! this video means a lot, for me it's something that is started really throttling my progress in my finances . I have some goals I'm trying to get to financially and after black Friday this year I really got stuck getting a bunch of frags, and I'm not making the funds I need to bring my goals to fruition, a lot of it has been that "fear of missing out" when I see frags getting too much hype and going up in price or frags that are going discontinued and I don't wanna miss out on that fragrance. I'm sort of in the same boat as you, I'm already have about 80 or 90 bottles and so much of it is so redundant to have so many frags that serve the same purpose. thank you bringing awareness Ill do my best to be responsible and really put a real effort. and I wish that strength to get our hobby under control back at you.
Good luck and thanks for watching!
I’ve cut down because of menopause with hormonal changes. Now I just keep what I grab the most and also clean and free of chemicals fragrances that don’t irritate my allergies in this new stage as I transition to menopause. Keep the collection small that works well. Only buy if need new refill when fragrance bottle runs out.
This was happening with makeup too 10 years ago. Then everyone stopped with the massive buying.
Now the world has become even worse...price of fragrances are becoming very high and cost of living is insane and I am afraid it will get worse, so an emergency fund is obbligatory.
What I find wonderfull is that, unlike makeup and skincare, with fragrances you can always sample! If you have more then 40 or even 10 fragrances then sampling and wearing that fragrances from time to time it's a good idea. But I know it is not the same thing as to buy the whole bottle with all the presentetion of packaging, surely it does not give the same endorphinic satisfaction. Like with all "addiction". Also I cry for planet earth with all the waste and many matirials used i perfumery are not sustainable anymore so why buy and buy and buy and left them to rot there on shelf 😢
Good advice, not only fragrance, but ANYTHING that is not needed truly needed. AND there is a difference between wanted and needed.
Thank you and absolutely true!
Thank you for the video! I was starting with this addiction Buying one fragrance per month And when I reached the eighteenth bottle I just started thinking "Is this normal? Or will I at least wear out these perfumes in less than 5 years?"
Love this. I’ve actually opted to start buying clean / Sade synthetic/ non toxic fragrances. It has curbed my buying SIGNIFICANTLY!!
Thanks! Yes I suppose if you narrow down what you’re allowing yourself to buy that’s going to help.
Thoughtful and timely topic. I'm doing an inventory of my many samples on an Excel spreadsheet.😅Keeps me occupied. Its kind of unbelievable how fragrance houses and the online distributors here in the US are raising prices at this time. I'm curious to know how the smaller houses are going to fare.
I have stopped and now I am sad 😢
How many minutes did you stop for?
@@Smurfygurly he'll have a vintage haul next week
@@Smurfygurly I'm more on a slow buy than a no buy these days. Definitely heading in right direction
@@FragranceView quiet!
Thank you so much for this "check in." It means a lot to hear all of this and can identify with many of these points. More discussion like this is so important and as enthusiasts in this community, we should show compassion and sensitivity to others who may be in the midst of a struggle or an addiction. We all have the potential to be in this position as buyers and collectors. My regards to you!
Yes it’s so true, it’s not something to be judgemental about as it affects so many especially in these last few years where there’s been so much sadness, frustration and uncertainty, it’s no wonder people turn to retail therapy. Plus scent stimulates our senses which I think why we become obsessed. Thanks for watching JJ!
@@Smurfygurly you’re welcome, and thank you for opening up this conversation ♥️
Amazing topic. You were soooo help ful. Basically we never stop to enjoy what we've already got. And the FOMO thing, great to remember every day. Patience is underrated. We need to calm down and reflexion. Excellent post.
A very timely reminder.
I needed this reality check😰
Thank you!!!
Thanks for watching and good luck!
Such a good reminder. I’ve been trying to avoid this subject for a while! I’m wondering if it’s the collecting I love as much as the smells. The idea of a new smell is so addictive and I have tons of samples untouched. I’m going to see if just enjoying my current collection is enough for me….should tell me a lot about myself
I think it’s the thrill of the chase. I get excited researching a fragrance then hunting for the best price. I can spend hours doing this. Enjoy your samples, they’re about to multiply!
Great tips Claire! I realized I was impulsive too but have put a stop on it for the rest of the year. I’ve decluttered a lot and still have a 100 bottles still 😂😂
Good advice in the current situation. There’s always some nasty financial surprise round the corner and if it’s not the Government tanking our savings and hiking mortgages it’s the ‘shit happens’ principal. I just sold some stuff thinking way-hey quids in! And then I promptly stepped on my own expensive glasses and destroyed them and I didn’t have accidental damage on my insurance…Also it’s good to keep a ‘wants’ list and keep it small and updated then wait to see how long you really want to buy that particular fragrance for. Hang fire for a bargain. I keep spreadsheets so I know exactly where my money is going. Bit anal but I’m on a pension.
So so good!! I love fragrance and would love to buy more because it’s fun and I love exploring new fragrances but I just can’t justify buying bottle after bottle!!!
I think if I weren’t on RUclips I would have 15-20 Max
We just had to renew our mortgage and it’s now an extra $400!!! Just sucks!!
Anyway, great topic and sensible thoughts!
Yes I think if it wasn’t for RUclips I’d have much less. Oh no! That jump in cost sucks so much 😢
Thanks for watching ❤️
Thnx, I just came out of a half year no buy 🌹
Wow that’s impressive, well done! 🌹
Thank you so much for your advice. I feel like this video was 100% for me. This year I look forward to scaling back on my purchases and finding more joy in discovering the parfumes I already own.
Have a blessed day.
Thank you so much for this necessary video. It was a reality check for me. I was so good for a long time...and then I started watching fragrance reviews again. Next, I started chasing that moment of joy when the fragrance arrives and I first smell it and then wear it...Oh, the joy! I have over 100 bottles and most to be honest, I don't wear. I think I'm a collector more of memories than actual fragrance. Each bottle holds a memory for me...something I can hold on to and experience. I need that! Yes...but not at the expense of my financial wellness. I just bought my last bottle. I am on a no-buy for the next six months until my birthday. I'm waiting for my last bottle to be delivered. For my birthday, I will allow myself to indulge :) PS: I absolutely LOVE your wallpaper!
I'm at the beginning of my journey, but my plan is to only purchase perfumes twice a year, for my birthday, and for Christmas.
@@cianamarshall8236 That's a great plan. How many bottles for each occasion? My birthday coming up in May. I Winston to buy something I adore, something really special.
@Cynthia Ava So is mine, I think my budget only really allows for 1 or 2 bottles plus a couple of samples to evaluate before the next purchase. Right now, I'm focusing on finding a vanilla I like. Then I'll move on to the next note, maybe jasmine or orange blossom 🤔
Yeah honestly listening to the frag community is.. misleading. A lot of the fragrances they mention are NOT worth the money & most perfumes have the same scent profile and smell like one another. I recommend getting samples and decants and fragrances that you absolutely love should only be added to your collection.
Such an interesting topic and I am very guilty of this... love buying new fragrances, it can very easily become a big addiction! Love your videos, listening to you feels like having a chat with a friend! Xx
Well done for posting. Yes, I have already TOO many fragrances. Near 80. That IS enough...... and some. Most of all of my fragrances are FULL bottles. I err not on the side of 1/2 bottles, (50ml). Yes, I have enough to LAST ME FOR ALL THE REST OF MY DAYS. Control and patience. --> a question to ask BEFORE purchase '' do I really NEED '' to make this purchase ?
Yes just asking yourself that one question can help! Thanks for watching
It’s a good reminder. It’s hard to say no sometimes
Thank you, Claire. Videos like this are of extreme importance and we ought to talk more about it.
Thank you!
Love this topic. This is a good wake up call before it get out of hand. I have like 10 perfumes and i think i would start to learn to appreciate what I have now than buying another bottle
I feel like 10 would be my limit before I start implementing the one in one out rule.
I have spent a lot of money in a two-and-a-half month period. I realized then how long it would take me to empty all the bottles and decided not to buy any fragrance for quite a while (years). I have a collection of 40 bottles. That’s quite a lot for a person only.
Yes 40 is definitely enough, you could always play swaps with some if you get bored!
We really are living in a precarious society nowadays......
Hello - great video to help us ground ourselves a little! I've tried pulling back a lot recently too, but there are always temptations. Back-up bottles can eat a lot of cash as can seeking older formulations of things out of curiosity (done that many times!) FOMO and hype are buggers and it takes effort to resist but if you can do it, it makes all the difference. Tried to watch a bit less content as well and enjoy it more now when I do watch something, which is a bit weird! Thanks again Claire - take care! 😊
Thanks! Yes back ups can be a problem especially when we know we’ll never need them as never manage to finish a bottle!!
Yes, yes, yes and … yes. I’m definitely team overwhelmed here 😂 and I don’t have any plans to purchase a fragrance in the near future. I used to be team FOMO, but once you consciously make the decision not to buy the limited edition to have that complete collection, it is definitely easier the next time temptation strikes. That’s a very important video, Claire!
Thanks Andreas you’ve been doing so well since you made your decision to stop /slow down, think I’ll be on a slow buy from now on with much more thought applied.
I am very thankful and impressed that you took it upon yourself to bring some of the World’s economic dilemmas front and center. Our realities are changing whether we accept it or not.
Thank you for this needed PSA. That’s very MINDFUL of you.
Thank you 🙏🏻
Great video Claire! Please consider doing more content like this, as in not necessarily fragrance reviews but related to the other parts of fragrance collecting that most people don’t talk about.
Thanks Amy I definitely shall do.
Its very true , I had to take a bold decision, to think more clearly on what's needed, and save up
So appropriate! Thank you so much for the check in, collecting can easily be so addictive
Thanks for watching
I just bought three bottles and I'm ready to buy another one😮😅 let the fun begin I love aromatherapy I Can't Get Enough makes me so happy it's like love in a bottle❤❤
Enjoy!
Im thankful in SA for the dupes that smells great for R50 so i stopped buying expensive perfume a long time ago due to debt and unaffordability❤
Thanks for sharing!!
The addiction is real and so much fun! My spending has slowed down a lot and I will declutter ones I'm not reaching for to buy or compensate one I've just bought! I now only buy from a really good dupe house, it's so much cheaper. Great topic Claire ❤️
Which one?
We need wise words like yours in these crazy uncertain times :) .You are SO right about patience. And acceptance that we won't be able to smell, let alone own every perfume (I work hard on my FOMO!). And organization : personal reviews leading to ranked wishlists, and budgeting. No blind buy for me, only, very rarely, "semi blind buy" if I have only smelled something once and found it interesting. I have recently bought 3 bottles of niche perfumes in 2 months because the promotions were interesting ... therefore one of them will be my Christmas gift, and I'm on a no buy till january 😬
After watch your video again, I decided to do a count , definitely I'm not pleased to where I had reach , so far I'm going hold on to myself to the max
Actually, that's a good idea. Even like local meet once a month groups would be nice. You make a list of all the things you own. A list of things you want to try and then you can swap decants with each other. Or even like, "I have 'Pure Poison' that I don't want anymore, would like 'Idol Aura.'" Then somebody who doesn't want their Idol Aura but wants a Pure Poison can hook up with you and you swap. Personally, I don't ever pay full price for perfume. I get on Mercari and wait for that steal. Like I have a bottle of Idol Aura. It was 1/6 gone and the cap had a broken piece so the person was selling it for like 40 bucks. SOLD. I am never going to go through the entire bottle within a reasonable amount of time due to the fact that I have about 11 perfumes. And a broken cap isn't hurting my perfume. I keep my perfumes in a drawer anyways. I think that's some of the issue. People want a brand new shiny bottle. I mean, sure, but how many times you gonna have people in your bedroom checking out that shelf? A number so close to 0 to me, I'll take the deal because I care about wearing it.I also see these perfume reviewers who have over 300 fragrances. Okay. But let's be real. How many fragrances have you've smelled in your lifetime and been like, "ooooo, that's gorgeous and SO ME!" I own 11 fragrances at the moment and I can tell you it hasn't been 11 times. LOL. Nuff said. If we were all honest 3-10 MAX is what you should have. And 10 is pushing it.