One at Sephora was recommending to me Dior Homme Intense telling me that "unlike most men's fragrances this one has got lavander...". Yeah, lavander, such an elusive note in men's perfumes...
I always go in knowing that I know more about a fragrance than they do and simply ask for the fragrance I’m looking for. They are regular people trying to make a living so I can’t fault them if they aren’t fragrance experts. I certainly don’t look down on them. They are pushed to sell product but they aren’t all fragrance geeks.
thx for understanding. i work partime retail assiant selling sports gear. when customers ask a question i dont know the answer to, ill ask them to wait and ask my supervisor, at times they may be unavailable attending to other customers. Its mentally draining on busy days esp with fussy customers. Respectable and understanding customers are very apprciated by me and goes a long way just so you know
Yea most people behind the counter could care less what the top notes and base notes are in dior homme or spicebomb night vision they just trying to make a living!!! But some things are quite hilarious when they deny something doesn't exist because they don't have it lol
I was sampling fragrances at the store once, and overheard the sales-lady recommend Tom Ford extreme, or Sauvage, to absolutely every customer she talked to. So now we know who`s to blame for everyone smelling the same.
I know that there is alot of hate for Macy's on here, and much of it is well-deserved. But I have to give a shout-out to Nicole at the Macy's in the Mall of America, who is very knowledgeable and personable. She has steered me away from several fragrances because she has taken the time to know my preferences, and several times she has simply said, "I don't know enough about that one to give you a recommendation."
I have no clue but I'd imagine the people at Macy's are working minimum wage, so while they may be awful at their jobs, I can't hate them for it. But it's rad that you found Nicole
It's not their job to steer you away from any scent. Who goes shopping for fragrance looking for sale reps to tell me what I like or dislike? Knowledge of fragrance will help you know everyone has their own individual scent profile. I would do a 180 if any rep tells me something like that
I remember a sales associate telling me about spraying on pulse points while making a face as if she had just revealed some ancient secret wisdom to me.😄 But she looked so proud when telling me, so I acted surprised and thanked her for the advice.
I just hate it when you ask to smell a specific fragrance and they just start pulling out a bunch of stuff for you to smell… like, I ain’t paying $80 for a bottle of The One… I didn’t ask you to bring all this stuff out.
This happened to me. I bought a sample of Spicebomb Extreme and loved it so I went to Macys to go get a bottle. I leave the store with 5 test strips of the EDT, Infrared, Nightvision EDT, Nightvision EDP and literally Spicebomb extreme. I only bought from them because certain Spicebombs are more expensive at discounters.
In Europe here. I went into a store and the sale associate was like "this fragrance is very strong! It has a 3.4 concentration", and I told her that 3.4 FL Oz. it's just a measurement of quantity like ml, used in US. She didn't believed me until I showed her the same fragrance in 50ml bottle has half of her "concentration measurement". Went a week later and had the same conversion, then replied "oh, yeah, you told me this once"
Ok, I completely understand the issues that have been presented in the video. But please, as a sales associate that works at Fragrance Outlet, I really do my best to understand all the notes and accords found within the frags that I sell. If no-one is in the store, you'll usually find me browsing Fragrantica and researching the myriad of offerings that we do and don't sell in store.
I absolutely HATE shopping at macys for fragrances ! They always rush me and try to push whatever new fragrance just came out on me…Covid made it worse now they don’t wanna let you touch the testers and they have to spray it for you…and don’t like to spray on your skin…I stopped buying from there especially since I get things on discount sites…I just use them to try to get a smell prior to ordering online
Right I agree they say they can’t spray it on your clothes or skin because it is possible you could get a allergic reaction. I don’t buy that why not just let me do it . I spray one spray especially if it’s new on my clothes and I walk through the mall then sit in my car to see how I like the smell. But it’s tough to do that now.
My Macy's saleswomen are terrible at sales. They just sit around on their phones and gossip. Not a bad deal for me though. I get to go around and test whatever I want in peace. The Sephora, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus reps are knowledgeable in my experience.
When I started working for Sephora I knew virtually nothing about fragrance, I was hired for the make up department specifically. Of course, being in a small location from a small country, I had to forcefully learn by myself because no one would give me deep insight about anything. I was caught off guard by a “I know more than you” customer and I felt embarassed for my life. I started searching for perfume databases and comparing notes, olfactory profiles, brands, concentrations, trying to find the nuances that create a fragrance. 4 years later I feel very much comfortable to share experiences with clients, talk about discontinued fragrances I got to know but admit ignorance when I don’t know something. I have clients driving for an hour to be advised by me and I feel I’ve grown so much. You are an inspiration!
I was at Dillard's and the Dior Representative was trying to sell me Dior Homme 2020. I told her that I already had it and the original Dior homme and Dior Homme Intense. She told me this was the only Dior Homme and they have never made an Intense version. Then she told me I was probably thinking of Sauvage because there is a regular and an intense version of it. lol
THE SAME! I was looking for Dior Homme Original, as I had the 2020 already and the SA looked at me like I was completely crazy and told me there is only Dior Homme, no 2020, no Original or anything. I explained and she said that’s not true. So I just said thank you and left.
This video was priceless 😂👌🏽 my favorite experiences are when I go to Macy’s or Nordstrom’s and I’ll test a few fragrances and they’re on me like vultures trying to sell me a bottle, and I’m just like “no thanks, I can find this cheaper online” and sometimes they have the audacity to say that my statement isn’t true…um discounter sites 🤷🏻♂️
@@YouSuck921 I know that, never said it was a bad thing either. All I’m saying is that I’m not gonna let anyone finesse me when I can get my money’s worth somewhere else
I try to hold my tongue at the counter when I hear a sales associate helping a newcomer to fragrance. I'll keep it a stack, I usually take over and help guide the young man not fall prey to terrible advice. They never even ask the first most basic question... "where are you looking to wear fragrance the most, office, gym, everyday, or a special event?"
I keep a pic of my collection pulled up on my phone. After 3 times the sales associate at.......Macy's......tries to push something on me, that I already own, I show them the pic. I can tell they don't believe me when I say I own every Chanel you sell already. The pic usually shuts them up. I literally have more different fragrances than they sell in total. I'm not there to be sold, I know what I'm looking for. Last week I went for Givenchy Reserve Prive. They had one bottle. I asked for it. Lady told me it didn't exist. I had to practically push her nose into the display case and show her the bottle. Ponderous. Fling Ponderous.
Now that's pure cringe. So when the person tries to do their job, that they are tasked to, you open up your phone and shove your pics in their face like a fragrance Karen because you're not there to be 'sold to', I know you probably think you're sounding badass in your head but they're just trying to do their job and you sound like a huge pretentious clown.
Jesus Karen! You walk into a department store, you are indeed fair game to be sold to. These aren't door to door sales people, they didn't show up at your place trying to sell you, you walked into theirs. Everyone sounds so elite and cringe here. "I'm not here to be sold" and my personal favorite "I'm not here to buy, just smell stuff for free then go buy online somewhere cheaper" CHRIST! 🙄
@@jeremyhinze8837 The last bit you mentioned is me, but I’d never say, especially to the sales people. That’s just rude and pretty embarrassing. I sniff around and when I made my mind up, I leave and will purchase online.
I love this going to Macys they are just so hilarious 😂 compared to our “fragrance enthusiast “ However, at Sephora, here in South Florida, there was a well adversed gentleman who knew how to pronounce and knew the notes of many fragrances, but no match for you guys! But a contender.
Too many of these kind of interactions at Macy’s to list here, but the best one I can think of is when Prada L’homme Intense got discontinued I went to see if they still had any in store. The SA said they did not, but they have YSL’s version (YSL L’homme EDT) and that it’s the same scent but that YSL is much better quality than Prada. 🤦♂️
When I worked at an electronics department of London Drugs in Canada many years ago during the summers of my university years, we were encouraged to keep in the know about all the electronics we sold, and new stuff and technology that was current and around the corner. It’s weird that the people can work at the fragrance counters and know little about the stuff they sell. I commonly get the ‘Oh it’s a Parfum… so it smells the same but is stronger projecting and will last much longer. ‘ Or a ‘I haven’t heard of that one…’ I just smile and tell them I’m just looking… and proceed to carry out the rest of my snooping around.
Back when Dior Homme 2020 came out, I was trying to check if the local shop still had the older formulation in stock and the sales associate claimed with confidence "it's the exact same scent anyway."
Its a trend that the more mainstream semi-upmarket retailers like Macys, Dillards and the average/smaller Sephora/Ultas have uninspired fragrance salespeople who have very limited knowledge of the products they sell. They lack the awareness that there are people who know and care about what they like enough not to purchase a bottle on a whim. To compensate, they come up with stories or fascinating yet fictional information.
Thank you for making such a wonderful video. I live in the Bahamas where a lot of sales associates are clueless. They basically push one fragrance on everyone at a time. Currently When you walk in the first thing they do is show savauge or “savage” lol. I remember when it was one million smh
Department stores usually have 3 types of associates working in the fragrance department. First type: “specialist”…for retail standards their relatively well paid and receive additional training. Also, the major houses, Chanel, Dior, Armani will give them loads of free stuff so they’ll push their brands. Type 2: the vendor or contractor. They are a 3rd party paid but the fragrance house to do one thing…push their specific product. They do not care what you are looking for…they are going to ram the new Cool Water flanker down your throat no matter what. Type 3: the fill in. This is usually a minimum wage worker who fills in when the specialist calls out. She knows nothing and she doesn’t care, period.
Some of these are pure gold. About 2 years ago, I walked into a shop called Scents and asked if they had any Creed Vetiver…as it’s pronounced. The sales assistant chirped back, “Oh, you must mean the .” To which I replied, “No. Just their Vetiver, please.”
One time a lady at Sephora ask me what I was wearing , I told her aventus which resulted in a low toned argument where she kept showing me a bottle of invictus and telling me that I was wrong that this is invictus and smells nothing like what you have on .. eventually I told her to Google creed aventus and walk away.
As much as I'm not a fan of dunking on retail associates - a lot of these issues could be avoided if they would ask, "Would you like to smell some recommendations / new arrivals?" before pulling out acqua di gio.
6 years ago in bulgaria i wanted to try aqva amara. Im man. Salesman told me its not for me its a woman fragrance . Also amara was placed in womans category shelfs
Two days after Bleu electrique was discontinued, I went to a local perfumeshop (like maceys but in my country) and asked for BLeu electrique, so I could have one bottle before the dissapeared forever. The salesassociate told me: oh that one, it's amazing, it's the newest in the line. I was like: *sigh* Yeah I know. Didn't tell her about the discontinuation. And I got a free sample as a bonus😁
The lady at macys told me that edp projects more and last longer when I told her most edt project more due to more alcohol and edp lasts a bit longer but doesn’t project as much usually lol she argued with me.
When I go into a department store and walk to the fragrances and fragrance distributor SA approaches me, I can relate to Ron Swanson where he’s like “I know more than you”. Its not the store associates that are terrible, it’s the distributor reps (or whatever they’re called) that are the problem. Almost every single one I have interacted knew nothing or very little about the very fragrance in front of them that was for display on the counter.
I have never once been to a Dillards, Macys, or any high end department store and actually felt like the sales associate knew anything about the fragrance, think the sephoras that actually have younger associates are the most helpful because they actually smell each fragrance. Its a little rediculous imo.
Agreed 1000%. The fragrance associates at my small market Macy's are literally clueless, as if they don't train them at all. They're just like, oh this one is popular buy this one. Sometimes they'll ask qualifying questions like what type of scents do you like but that's not all the time. Our sephora in the same mall has a lot more knowledge and friendly reps, many of them like you said being younger.
My worst/best experience with a sales associate is when i'd gone into a store to see what new releases were out, the woman talking to me and giving samples recommended a few, all of which i had. I then told her I'm looking for ADG PROFONDO LIGHTS, she told me she worked for armani and that it didn't exist, she was adamant i was making it up, at which point i pulled up your review on youtube to show her, she then messaged some colleagues of hers and shown me their replys, none of them had heard of it, about 2 weeks later when i had managed to get my hands on it i purposely went in the store wearing it, and shown her a pic of my bottle. I was right! Point proven! 🤣 Childish but funny
I just stopped by Ulta the other day specifically bc it’s usually a place where sales people don’t approach me. A lady did this time. It immediately killed the vibe and I bounced.
I was once trying out creed’s original vetiver at David Jones when I noticed a very tiny sticker at the bottom of the bottle reading “jfk”. I asked the saleswoman about it and she said that it was John F. Kennedy’s favourite fragrance. I could barely control my laughter. I asked her “when did he die?” She said “1969”, which is also incorrect. He died in 1963. Then I told her that the fragrance came out around 2004-2005 so…. She instantly became defensive saying “I work for Creed, I would know”. 😂😂 Anyway, I spared her more embarrassment and said “yeah I mean this could’ve been inspired by his life and achievements and such”. Then she agreed with me and left me alone
There was a "Vetiver" from Creed introduced in 1947 that was said to be worn by J.F.K. according to company folklore. It was actually the first Creed I bought at a fragrance counter. She wasn't wrong, just had the wrong Vetiver scent. (The 1947 version with the grey cap has sadly been discontinued.)
I was told to spray on my wrists and rub it together as it activates the cologne lol like a special code, i said no it actually ruins it as once you spray it on a certain area it starts its process and then dries down. The lady still didn't think that was right, i said you've been ruining your fragrance for years by breaking it when you rub it together, but the way she said when you rub your wrists together it activates the fragrance lol.
I am a sales rep at an ulta. I was just talking to the Dior rep yesterday. There’s one fragrance from them that has all natural oils and a water base. That was version of J’dore …. I’m glad I found your videos. It has helped me with helping customers 10 fold
I was in an upscale department store recently and told two associates I was browsing for a sweet gourmand, preferably vanilla fragrance. The start throwing a bunch of oud and woody fragrances at me, all with some of the highest price tags on the counter. Money was not an issue, but they were really just looking out for themselves and didn't even listen to what I was searching for.
I really enjoy when someone that's selling me fragrances do know what their job is. Last time the saleswoman was pretty upfront to me about many of the fragrances in their catalogue that are pushed to clients by some but don't last more than 4 hours on skin or are very uninteresting. Funny that I see lots of vendors trying to push Invictus to young men like me but that one didn't, she actually warned me off that one. Respect. I heard many weird stuff from sellers tho, some SA called CH Men Prive fresh and clean... Dior Homme hasn't changed... Sauvage and Toy Boy are for the same purpose...
One time at an Ulta I literally bought 3 fragrances I could have found much cheaper at discounters just to flex as a matter of principle. I was dressed down I guess you could say... ripped jeans, sneakers, a graphic t, and a wearing a bandana with a snapback over it. And I have a lot of tattoos. The sales associate came up with an immediate smug look and asked if she could help, and I asked her about pricing on a couple things because the bottle sizes on the shelf didn't match the labels. She proceeded to tell me they were very expensive and tried to direct me to less expensive fragrances, explaining that they were much more affordable, rather than anything about the performance, quality, or smell. I told her I was familiar with them and wasn't interested. She tried to steer me toward more things that were cheaper every time I would ask about something I actually wanted. I quickly realized what was going on, "book by the cover" & all, so I just picked up a bottle of Bleu De Chanel EDP, Gucci Made To Measure, and Dolce & Gabbana The One EDP, then said "Oh, I see you have the smaller bottle of Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme, but to do you carry the 3.4 oz?" She replied hesitantly and said they were currently out, so I said "that's unfortunate" and made my way to the counter to make the purchase of everything. She asked me if I needed her assistance in carrying everything, and I simply replied "nah, I got this."
@@ultimatetrex1999 Are you kidding? I might have paid a little more than necessary, but I got 3 great fragrances that I love. Had I not been as financially stable as I was then, it might have gone differently, but it definitely felt like the right thing to do in the moment, and I have no regrets.
During lockdown the local department store were closed for walk in customers but still delivering. I emailed and asked what batch of Aventus I would receive if I ordered then. They actually got hold of Creed and were told there were no batch variations and I think they thought I was a little crazy! 😂
I had almost the exact same experience with Macys and Bleu Electrique. Actually had to show the saleswoman the product on the Macys website before she believed me. Told me I should work for them and I laughed.
This is true! I was at the mall two days ago, this young dude at this perfume kiosk tried selling me some French deep sense eau de parfum along with the deep sense sport as a special, both bottles for 120.00. as I was talking to him I checked the prices. I can get a bottle of each one for 25. Seriously, these kids don't know how to sell things.
While it isn't exactly the marketing blurb that we're sometimes sold, you'd be surprised how hands on Chanel, Guerlain and increasingly Dior are with producers of specific raw products.
I go to a place called Dillard's, the same guy is always in there. He knows his fragrances inside and out. I just can't believe how knowledgeable he is about every single fragrance and he is spot on from the initial spray to the dry down. If I'm going in to buy a fragrance I have already done my research. Everything that I know he confirms as correct but then he typically has even more additional information. He is an amazing associate, I'm really glad he happens to work where I shop for fragrances.
Thank you for this! I laughed out loud. As a contrast: I gifted myself Angel Share for Xmas and the sales associate gave me a HUGE sample of a gelee royale cream "to protect my bald head in the winter"
As a sales associate, my manager wants us to sell the higher priced niche fragrances, because they make more money for the store. We're encouraged to try to talk customers out of name brand designer and push them towards our house brands.
In contrast to this, I had a great experience with a very knowledgeable sales woman at Saks In Boston's Back Bay. In fairness to the counter workers at Macy's and the rest, this sure sounds like what you get when store management treats sales people as interchangeable and puts someone from the kitchenwares department behind the fragrance counter. Kudos to places like Saks that don't seem to do that. I try to buy a bottle at retail every so often and make sure to make that purchase somewhere I feel like has earned my business.
Whenever I walk into a fragrance store and take the first breath the first thing that gets into my mind after 0.1 seconds is „I already can’t smell anything anymore, even if I sample something it’s gonna be a blind buy“.
I was at Sephora this weekend & noticed this guy talking to the associates. Don’t think she knew much about fragrances. This was his first time in buying a cologne. I own several colognes now & was confident in talking to the guy. I recommend him YSL the Y edp. He ended up buying the 100ml bottle. The female associate thank me.
I had a really bad experience at my local Neiman Marcus. Sales associate at Roja Parfums was trying to get me to buy the Elysium. She was like you should buy it, it's expensive. I was like, I'm not going buy it just because it's expensive. I asked her about the concentration and some of the notes. She said it's a parfum concentration, it's in the name of the company, Roja Parfums. She proceeded to tell me that all of Rojas fragrances were parfums and they use all natural oils, 65% or higher in fragrance oils. So, I asked her how does she know this and to that she replied, I've been to their factory and Roja Dove himself told her that when he visited this particular Neiman location. I just didn't know what to say to her or if I should even reply to her, I just walked away
I was at Macy’s asking if they carried Chanel Allure Homme Edition Blanche (I was not aware that it was an online exclusive), and she looked at me confused and said that it doesn’t exist. She said they carry the entire line of Chanel Allure Homme and this is all that Chanel makes and that I’m probably confused about the names. I insisted that it was real and she rolled her eyes at me. I showed her on my phone the fragrance on the Chanel website and she said that it must be a new release and that they’ll be getting it soon and to come back in a couple weeks. I never came back because she was being patronizing, and this was early on in my fragrance journey.
Had to watch cause I’ve sold fragrance for 6 years. Some of these are wild, but the best I’ve heard was someone being told at Sephora Acqua di Gio was discountinued because it was out of stock. I’ve always had 2 rules for my employees: 1. Know you’re stuff, and 2. If you don’t know, be honest, and offer to look anything up for your customer. The stuff people get fed in this industry is crazy.
We need to remember that the sale associates go home and leave the job at their workplace. Theyre not like use. They dont really live and breath (and smell) fragrances the way we do.
I actually loved this video🤣 it was a breath of fresh air tbh. Keep coming up with new ideas for videos bro. I've fallen off the fragrance game for a year now after accumulating 90 bottles so unique videos like this keep me coming back. I realized im not as much as an enthusiast as I thought. Love fragrances still but my interests change, like now I cant stop buying motorcycles 🤣
More of these ! I am still a beginner but man i'm glad i have an idea what to look out for in these stores now, I'm gonna visit one one of these days to see what they tell me lol
This could come down to a “everyone’s nose is different” type of situation but I went to a Macy’s a few days ago and while I was browsing I overheard the fragrance associate tell this other customer that she “doesn’t understand why versace is so popular because they die out immediately after you spray, they’re basically like bath and body works sprays”.
lol this is really cracking me i worked at Macy's many years ago but i worked cosmetic sales usually it's the reps that come in that know the real info on the fragrances. some of the sales associates try to listen and learn so they can repeat what they hear....but they really don't get it right at times.
Yeah, I've rarely left a fragrance counter without them telling me I should be working there 😁. I am usually there to sample releases from the preceding 1-2 months, and they are mostly giving me the sales pitch on whichever 3-4 scents are being pushed the hardest - once they see my knowledge of their entire inventory they'll often start digging for tips they can use to sell other stuff, which I am more than happy to provide.
I had one lady in the same session tell me that bleu de Chanel was a winter fragrance and also try to convince me that the YSL Y bottle sitting on the ysl l’homme display thing was indeed YSL l’homme and not YSL Y
I am downright thankful for the peeps manning the perfume discount shops that I haunt that they do not pressure me on choosing stuff that I don't like. The worst that I get is a side eye.
Idk man I just watch GentScents, I would never go to a Macy's or Sephora, every fragrance I've bought the last year was a recommendation here, though Encre Noire can only be worn by lumberjacks!
In the UK, Liverpool there are some knowledgeable sales assistants in the likes of Boots, the fragrance shop, and perfume shop. A woman in boots once offered me Prada Amber pour Homme, me being unaware of it, I turned it down and bought Le Male. I so much prefer the prada, gentle, clean and lasts a while too.
My sales associate encounter had nothing to do with knowledge of fragrance but more involving profiling. My nephew and I walk into a fragrance store( not Macy's) to make some purchases. I asked the girl at the counter about fragrance, and if they had any samples( wasn't Macy's) the managers spoke up and stated but they didn't but it was with a certain tone. I've been asked about a certain fragrance I was interested in and because the young lady was nice she didn't know so once again she asked the manager. And I didn't have that fragrance, while told the new girl while let me smell something. Once I made a selection search my nephew"what do you want?" That's when they manage all of a sudden wanted to be helpful that's when I blew her off. We walked out the store and I'd spent $200 and I made sure the young girl got to sale.
I went to the german equivalent of sephora and asked if they have the new CH Bad Boy Cobalt and the lady just gave me the CH Bad Boy Le Parfum and told me that it is the same fragrance. After I showed her the fragrance on google she insisted that the blue cobalt bottle was a fake and that i‘m wrong.
Just goes to show how rare it is that people have knowledge and a general interest in fragrances. Many people that have worked in the field for years have no experience or interest in fragrances...may also represent the small number of people that wear niche scents.
Has anyone experienced the sales associates ignoring you because you appear to them that you're not going to buy but it's only because you have mostly all the fragrances they have available and looking for something you don't have that you'll like?
A guy at Dillards once did me that in the Tom Ford section! He was like Sir that fragrance is $225 maybe you should try the Dior Section. I was like nah I own most of those I’ll take this one and give me that one as well. I felt I was being profiled but remained calm. I then said you know what I’ll let her help me out. In case of the woman got the commission.
It would be cool if you could do a tour of a larger perfumer, sit down with a designer and walk through the process. I know you did an episode in the process, but field trips are always more fun. Plus, Chelsea deserves a European vacation
On a live stream couple of weeks back Eugen asked an SA the notes of the new TF Rose de Russie. She went on to show him the ingredients on the back of the box 😂😂😂
I just wish I didn’t always get tackled and have a bottle of Sauvage EDT forced down my throat every time I walk into a macy’s especially since that fragrance is 6 years old now. 💀
Hate the fragrance sales, whenever i stop to check some fragrance, the only they have to say is "try this one it's new", "this one is sale price" I'm tired of explain them that I don't looking for "new" fragrance, I'm looking for something new for me not just new.
I once had a sales associate tell me there really wasn’t any difference between the edt and EDP version of Spicebomb Night Vision… I was like… Weeeeeeellll… Im still going to go with the EDP. Or…. A customer experience. Some guy was trying to flex his fragrance knowledge about Valentino Uomo and Uomo Intense.. Talking about the “lipsticky” Iris and so on… Problem was… He was smelling yellow Dream and born in Roma.. I didn’t say anything… just strolled away.
I agree with some others here. Like in a movie, I JUST RUN AWAY FROM "M A C Y' S" sales associates, They are like birds of pray . At least here in Florida. If you approach the fragrance desk when it seems nobody's around, they soon spot you from their talk-group and disband and fall on us , a prospect customer just trying to sample . Nowadays, I RUN AWAY like in the old classic movie THE BIRDS. Really, it is sad they are encourage by Macy's to do that, but they are really annoying.
The case with Macy’s is sad, especially when they use that condescending tone. I was talking with a rep once while tryings ome bottles from John Varvatos, at some point I told her I like or was looking for an aquatic fragrance, and she told me aquatics did not exist, asking what notes would an aquatic have. Too bad I usually avoid arguing. Reps at Macy’s get mad when you just come and try, but there is no way I’m buying full price when I can get it for half the price online in some cases…
In regards to the guy who pulled up the Macy's website to show an SA a product she said they didn't sell. I once ordered a top shelf Long Island Iced Tea from a bar I used to frequent. When I got it, it didn't have the main ingredient in it that prompted me to order it. I let the bartender know and his response was that the drink didn't come with that. I assured him it did and he said no it doesn't. So, with the drink menu right in front of me, I opened it, showed him the ingredients to the drink and there it was. During this whole exchange I was very polite and he apologized and offered to bring me a fresh drink properly made. I said, no that's okay. I'll drink this but when I get my second please have it made properly.
I recently got gaslit by a Chanel saleswoman, she was nice overall but when she sprayed the fresh flanker of Chanel Chance and asked me what difference I smell (my nose is not the best) I told her citrus and she just shook her head and said teak wood. While I'm sure there's teak in the fragrance, and Fragrantica confirms this, it's probably much more visible in the dry down and not as prominent in the opening.
The craziest one I got is I went into the biggest mall ive ever been to in my life. 3 levels. Absolutely massive. All high fancy designer stores. I went into a bloomingdales that was about the size of a normal building all on its own. An older fragrance salesman with a suit and tie came up and asked how he could help me. If I was looking for anything in particular. He was shakey and I could see he had some sort of disability physically that cause his hand to shake. I thought it was really nice and company and place would hire someone like that to work in a really high end mall and all that. Anyways, after he asked if he could help with anything I went "Yes. I wanna wear something smokey. Something with a smokey note in it." I figured he would lead my to creed aventus and then I'd go "Yeah I like this but got anything cheaper with a smoke note?" That didn't happen. He went "Well...the only thing u can think of that is smokey is this.." and he lead me to Jimmy choo man ice. I was newish to the fragrance world so I didn't say anything and I wasn't as experienced or knowledgeable as I am now but I figured something with the name "Ice" in it didn't have smokey notes in it. And correct I was. And now looking back you could even argue something in the vetiver line from Heremes could classify as smokey. I got a smokey note from the eau intense. But nope didn't recommend that. He went on to recommend Coach as well.
I may be wrong, but I worked at macys for like one month in highschool and they made commission, so a lot of the sales associates were overly aggressive because most of the pay came from sales commission. Maybe I’m wrong and they changed the pay structure but that definitely could be a reason why employees make up stuff to make extra sales
One at Sephora was recommending to me Dior Homme Intense telling me that "unlike most men's fragrances this one has got lavander...". Yeah, lavander, such an elusive note in men's perfumes...
I guess they're preying on ignorance
@@axeavier I prey on ignorance. I sell people solar powered LED flashlights. 👍😉
@@wayne2150 leave the flashlight outside or at the sunny window during the day, then you have it charged at night.
Although I get the joke lol
She had us in the first half ngl...
@@axeavier the battery is extra :P
I always go in knowing that I know more about a fragrance than they do and simply ask for the fragrance I’m looking for. They are regular people trying to make a living so I can’t fault them if they aren’t fragrance experts. I certainly don’t look down on them. They are pushed to sell product but they aren’t all fragrance geeks.
thx for understanding. i work partime retail assiant selling sports gear. when customers ask a question i dont know the answer to, ill ask them to wait and ask my supervisor, at times they may be unavailable attending to other customers. Its mentally draining on busy days esp with fussy customers. Respectable and understanding customers are very apprciated by me and goes a long way just so you know
Yea most people behind the counter could care less what the top notes and base notes are in dior homme or spicebomb night vision they just trying to make a living!!! But some things are quite hilarious when they deny something doesn't exist because they don't have it lol
If they flat out lie they deserve it
To sell a product you have to be knowledgeable about it
true chad right here
Associate: "aquatic means it wont come off while swimming"
Me: "actually it means you can smell it underwater you gotta try it"
genius m8 🤣🤣
Evil, but I love it!
😂😂😂
Got the whole squad laughing
I was sampling fragrances at the store once, and overheard the sales-lady recommend Tom Ford extreme, or Sauvage, to absolutely every customer she talked to. So now we know who`s to blame for everyone smelling the same.
Be grateful, shes steering everyone away from the other fragrances so they don’t get overused too 😂😂
I know that there is alot of hate for Macy's on here, and much of it is well-deserved. But I have to give a shout-out to Nicole at the Macy's in the Mall of America, who is very knowledgeable and personable. She has steered me away from several fragrances because she has taken the time to know my preferences, and several times she has simply said, "I don't know enough about that one to give you a recommendation."
I have no clue but I'd imagine the people at Macy's are working minimum wage, so while they may be awful at their jobs, I can't hate them for it. But it's rad that you found Nicole
Also might be the only brick and mortar option in the area for people.
Nicole I will never meet you, since I'm from the other side of the world, but you're awesome! Steve May show her this comments!
It's not their job to steer you away from any scent. Who goes shopping for fragrance looking for sale reps to tell me what I like or dislike? Knowledge of fragrance will help you know everyone has their own individual scent profile. I would do a 180 if any rep tells me something like that
@@umidad9252 I think you missed the part where he said she has taken her time to know his preferences
I remember a sales associate telling me about spraying on pulse points while making a face as if she had just revealed some ancient secret wisdom to me.😄 But she looked so proud when telling me, so I acted surprised and thanked her for the advice.
Ur a great guy, giving her that little daily victory!
@@linna4pf695 Of course. She was friendly and just tried to help. And let's be honest, this would have been secret wisdom for many buyers. ;)
Yes... But did you get her phone number?😉
@@slicksnewonenow We are married now. 😉😉
@@solokomwhat a chad. 😌😌
An Ulta employee once told me the the difference between Bleu de Chanel EDT and EDP is that one is water based and the other is oil based.
Bro I went to smell jpg le male vs ultra male and she was saying edp is way better bc it last longer, like bro they smell different chill lol
😂😂😂
Yea the EDT is toilet water based
@@RelaxyourmindwithDLR 99% of the time she wouldn't be wrong. Edps are generally higher in concentration than Edts.
I just hate it when you ask to smell a specific fragrance and they just start pulling out a bunch of stuff for you to smell… like, I ain’t paying $80 for a bottle of The One… I didn’t ask you to bring all this stuff out.
Thats why I avoid at all costs interaction, they will make you smell 300 fragrances in 2 seconds, happened to me twice, so f anoying
This happened to me. I bought a sample of Spicebomb Extreme and loved it so I went to Macys to go get a bottle. I leave the store with 5 test strips of the EDT, Infrared, Nightvision EDT, Nightvision EDP and literally Spicebomb extreme. I only bought from them because certain Spicebombs are more expensive at discounters.
I went to Macy's yesterday to go buy Polo Red EDT. This lady straight got like 5 diffent colognes and sprayed my arms 🤦
In Europe here. I went into a store and the sale associate was like "this fragrance is very strong! It has a 3.4 concentration", and I told her that 3.4 FL Oz. it's just a measurement of quantity like ml, used in US. She didn't believed me until I showed her the same fragrance in 50ml bottle has half of her "concentration measurement". Went a week later and had the same conversion, then replied "oh, yeah, you told me this once"
It's shocking that the unemployment rate isn't 30-40%... Like who is giving jobs to these people.
@@archockencanto1645 Employers who can't automate.
That’s why I’m pro AI. also because mainstream media thinks AI is racist and stuff 😂
Ok, I completely understand the issues that have been presented in the video. But please, as a sales associate that works at Fragrance Outlet, I really do my best to understand all the notes and accords found within the frags that I sell. If no-one is in the store, you'll usually find me browsing Fragrantica and researching the myriad of offerings that we do and don't sell in store.
I absolutely HATE shopping at macys for fragrances ! They always rush me and try to push whatever new fragrance just came out on me…Covid made it worse now they don’t wanna let you touch the testers and they have to spray it for you…and don’t like to spray on your skin…I stopped buying from there especially since I get things on discount sites…I just use them to try to get a smell prior to ordering online
Me too, I go to vonnmaur to spray fragrances, and when they find out I know more. They let me spray
Right I agree they say they can’t spray it on your clothes or skin because it is possible you could get a allergic reaction. I don’t buy that why not just let me do it . I spray one spray especially if it’s new on my clothes and I walk through the mall then sit in my car to see how I like the smell. But it’s tough to do that now.
My Macy's saleswomen are terrible at sales. They just sit around on their phones and gossip. Not a bad deal for me though. I get to go around and test whatever I want in peace.
The Sephora, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus reps are knowledgeable in my experience.
I know right. I went yesterday and they sprayed like 5 different colognes on my arms. I just went there to pick out the one I went there for 🤣
What online sites yall use?
And my favorite ... "Eros is a perfect office scent for a 50 year old gentleman "
Eros is the perfect scent for bathrooms, up there with Fabuloso
I think it really could be OK in that situation tho, too many people just copy whatevers say, everyone saying the same things over and over again.
@@keithchegwin1222 tea or coffee, tea or coffee
☠
When I started working for Sephora I knew virtually nothing about fragrance, I was hired for the make up department specifically. Of course, being in a small location from a small country, I had to forcefully learn by myself because no one would give me deep insight about anything.
I was caught off guard by a “I know more than you” customer and I felt embarassed for my life.
I started searching for perfume databases and comparing notes, olfactory profiles, brands, concentrations, trying to find the nuances that create a fragrance. 4 years later I feel very much comfortable to share experiences with clients, talk about discontinued fragrances I got to know but admit ignorance when I don’t know something. I have clients driving for an hour to be advised by me and I feel I’ve grown so much. You are an inspiration!
I was at Dillard's and the Dior Representative was trying to sell me Dior Homme 2020. I told her that I already had it and the original Dior homme and Dior Homme Intense. She told me this was the only Dior Homme and they have never made an Intense version. Then she told me I was probably thinking of Sauvage because there is a regular and an intense version of it. lol
THE SAME! I was looking for Dior Homme Original, as I had the 2020 already and the SA looked at me like I was completely crazy and told me there is only Dior Homme, no 2020, no Original or anything. I explained and she said that’s not true. So I just said thank you and left.
This video was priceless 😂👌🏽 my favorite experiences are when I go to Macy’s or Nordstrom’s and I’ll test a few fragrances and they’re on me like vultures trying to sell me a bottle, and I’m just like “no thanks, I can find this cheaper online” and sometimes they have the audacity to say that my statement isn’t true…um discounter sites 🤷🏻♂️
I can't speak to how things work at Macy's, but at nordstroms they make commission on the sales so that is why they push things so hard
@@YouSuck921 I know that, never said it was a bad thing either. All I’m saying is that I’m not gonna let anyone finesse me when I can get my money’s worth somewhere else
I try to hold my tongue at the counter when I hear a sales associate helping a newcomer to fragrance. I'll keep it a stack, I usually take over and help guide the young man not fall prey to terrible advice. They never even ask the first most basic question... "where are you looking to wear fragrance the most, office, gym, everyday, or a special event?"
Facts. Sales associates always just recommend top sellers. Dont ask basics such as preference for sweet, fresh, performance occasion ect.
Me too
I keep a pic of my collection pulled up on my phone. After 3 times the sales associate at.......Macy's......tries to push something on me, that I already own, I show them the pic. I can tell they don't believe me when I say I own every Chanel you sell already. The pic usually shuts them up. I literally have more different fragrances than they sell in total. I'm not there to be sold, I know what I'm looking for. Last week I went for Givenchy Reserve Prive. They had one bottle. I asked for it. Lady told me it didn't exist. I had to practically push her nose into the display case and show her the bottle. Ponderous. Fling Ponderous.
Now that's pure cringe. So when the person tries to do their job, that they are tasked to, you open up your phone and shove your pics in their face like a fragrance Karen because you're not there to be 'sold to', I know you probably think you're sounding badass in your head but they're just trying to do their job and you sound like a huge pretentious clown.
Fragrance Karen 😂😂
Jesus Karen! You walk into a department store, you are indeed fair game to be sold to. These aren't door to door sales people, they didn't show up at your place trying to sell you, you walked into theirs.
Everyone sounds so elite and cringe here. "I'm not here to be sold" and my personal favorite "I'm not here to buy, just smell stuff for free then go buy online somewhere cheaper" CHRIST! 🙄
@@jeremyhinze8837 The last bit you mentioned is me, but I’d never say, especially to the sales people. That’s just rude and pretty embarrassing. I sniff around and when I made my mind up, I leave and will purchase online.
@@balazs7235 lol same here
I love this going to Macys they are just so hilarious 😂 compared to our “fragrance enthusiast “ However, at Sephora, here in South Florida, there was a well adversed gentleman who knew how to pronounce and knew the notes of many fragrances, but no match for you guys! But a contender.
Uncle Chris!!!!
...well versed...(?)
@@texasdave5136 uncle Chris is a busy man. No time to correct his phones auto correct!
To be honest going with whatever the associates recommends is like having ur girl or mom pick out your clothes
Hilariuosly true
Too many of these kind of interactions at Macy’s to list here, but the best one I can think of is when Prada L’homme Intense got discontinued I went to see if they still had any in store. The SA said they did not, but they have YSL’s version (YSL L’homme EDT) and that it’s the same scent but that YSL is much better quality than Prada. 🤦♂️
When I worked at an electronics department of London Drugs in Canada many years ago during the summers of my university years, we were encouraged to keep in the know about all the electronics we sold, and new stuff and technology that was current and around the corner.
It’s weird that the people can work at the fragrance counters and know little about the stuff they sell.
I commonly get the ‘Oh it’s a Parfum… so it smells the same but is stronger projecting and will last much longer. ‘
Or a ‘I haven’t heard of that one…’
I just smile and tell them I’m just looking… and proceed to carry out the rest of my snooping around.
Reminds me of when I worked at Sears (a long time ago). We had lots of training sessions and had to learn about the products. Those days are gone.
Back when Dior Homme 2020 came out, I was trying to check if the local shop still had the older formulation in stock and the sales associate claimed with confidence "it's the exact same scent anyway."
I work at Notino and im trying my best to recommend the best fragrance for the customer, it is more important for me than my performance at work
Its a trend that the more mainstream semi-upmarket retailers like Macys, Dillards and the average/smaller Sephora/Ultas have uninspired fragrance salespeople who have very limited knowledge of the products they sell. They lack the awareness that there are people who know and care about what they like enough not to purchase a bottle on a whim. To compensate, they come up with stories or fascinating yet fictional information.
Thank you for making such a wonderful video. I live in the Bahamas where a lot of sales associates are clueless. They basically push one fragrance on everyone at a time. Currently When you walk in the first thing they do is show savauge or “savage” lol. I remember when it was one million smh
Department stores usually have 3 types of associates working in the fragrance department. First type: “specialist”…for retail standards their relatively well paid and receive additional training. Also, the major houses, Chanel, Dior, Armani will give them loads of free stuff so they’ll push their brands. Type 2: the vendor or contractor. They are a 3rd party paid but the fragrance house to do one thing…push their specific product. They do not care what you are looking for…they are going to ram the new Cool Water flanker down your throat no matter what. Type 3: the fill in. This is usually a minimum wage worker who fills in when the specialist calls out. She knows nothing and she doesn’t care, period.
Actually, it was a sales assistent that showed and me Light Blue Forever, One of my favourite scents!
Some of these are pure gold. About 2 years ago, I walked into a shop called Scents and asked if they had any Creed Vetiver…as it’s pronounced. The sales assistant chirped back, “Oh, you must mean the .” To which I replied, “No. Just their Vetiver, please.”
One time a lady at Sephora ask me what I was wearing , I told her aventus which resulted in a low toned argument where she kept showing me a bottle of invictus and telling me that I was wrong that this is invictus and smells nothing like what you have on .. eventually I told her to Google creed aventus and walk away.
The only RUclipsr I can't stop watching you're the best reviewer I appreciate your content
As much as I'm not a fan of dunking on retail associates - a lot of these issues could be avoided if they would ask, "Would you like to smell some recommendations / new arrivals?" before pulling out acqua di gio.
6 years ago in bulgaria i wanted to try aqva amara. Im man. Salesman told me its not for me its a woman fragrance . Also amara was placed in womans category shelfs
Interesting lesson in how the design process of perfumes works. Great stuff as always.
Really enjoyed watching this Ash! Very informative and humorous. 😂😁
My best experience with a sales associate is when they just dont show up and let me do my thing. I only need them to ring my stuff up so I can go
Two days after Bleu electrique was discontinued, I went to a local perfumeshop (like maceys but in my country) and asked for BLeu electrique, so I could have one bottle before the dissapeared forever.
The salesassociate told me: oh that one, it's amazing, it's the newest in the line.
I was like: *sigh* Yeah I know.
Didn't tell her about the discontinuation.
And I got a free sample as a bonus😁
The lady at macys told me that edp projects more and last longer when I told her most edt project more due to more alcohol and edp lasts a bit longer but doesn’t project as much usually lol she argued with me.
it's basic chemistry actually
When I go into a department store and walk to the fragrances and fragrance distributor SA approaches me, I can relate to Ron Swanson where he’s like “I know more than you”. Its not the store associates that are terrible, it’s the distributor reps (or whatever they’re called) that are the problem. Almost every single one I have interacted knew nothing or very little about the very fragrance in front of them that was for display on the counter.
I have never once been to a Dillards, Macys, or any high end department store and actually felt like the sales associate knew anything about the fragrance, think the sephoras that actually have younger associates are the most helpful because they actually smell each fragrance. Its a little rediculous imo.
Agreed 1000%. The fragrance associates at my small market Macy's are literally clueless, as if they don't train them at all. They're just like, oh this one is popular buy this one. Sometimes they'll ask qualifying questions like what type of scents do you like but that's not all the time. Our sephora in the same mall has a lot more knowledge and friendly reps, many of them like you said being younger.
My worst/best experience with a sales associate is when i'd gone into a store to see what new releases were out, the woman talking to me and giving samples recommended a few, all of which i had. I then told her I'm looking for ADG PROFONDO LIGHTS, she told me she worked for armani and that it didn't exist, she was adamant i was making it up, at which point i pulled up your review on youtube to show her, she then messaged some colleagues of hers and shown me their replys, none of them had heard of it, about 2 weeks later when i had managed to get my hands on it i purposely went in the store wearing it, and shown her a pic of my bottle. I was right! Point proven!
🤣 Childish but funny
I just stopped by Ulta the other day specifically bc it’s usually a place where sales people don’t approach me. A lady did this time. It immediately killed the vibe and I bounced.
I wanted to try the new Gucci Guilty parfum. They had it but there was no tester
I was once trying out creed’s original vetiver at David Jones when I noticed a very tiny sticker at the bottom of the bottle reading “jfk”. I asked the saleswoman about it and she said that it was John F. Kennedy’s favourite fragrance. I could barely control my laughter. I asked her “when did he die?” She said “1969”, which is also incorrect. He died in 1963. Then I told her that the fragrance came out around 2004-2005 so…. She instantly became defensive saying “I work for Creed, I would know”. 😂😂 Anyway, I spared her more embarrassment and said “yeah I mean this could’ve been inspired by his life and achievements and such”. Then she agreed with me and left me alone
There was a "Vetiver" from Creed introduced in 1947 that was said to be worn by J.F.K. according to company folklore. It was actually the first Creed I bought at a fragrance counter. She wasn't wrong, just had the wrong Vetiver scent. (The 1947 version with the grey cap has sadly been discontinued.)
@@andrewensley9599 wow that’s interesting information. Thanks. Was your Vetiver similar to modern day Original Vetiver?
JFK also wore Guerlain Vetiver.
I was told to spray on my wrists and rub it together as it activates the cologne lol like a special code, i said no it actually ruins it as once you spray it on a certain area it starts its process and then dries down. The lady still didn't think that was right, i said you've been ruining your fragrance for years by breaking it when you rub it together, but the way she said when you rub your wrists together it activates the fragrance lol.
I am a sales rep at an ulta. I was just talking to the Dior rep yesterday. There’s one fragrance from them that has all natural oils and a water base. That was version of J’dore …. I’m glad I found your videos. It has helped me with helping customers 10 fold
I was in an upscale department store recently and told two associates I was browsing for a sweet gourmand, preferably vanilla fragrance. The start throwing a bunch of oud and woody fragrances at me, all with some of the highest price tags on the counter. Money was not an issue, but they were really just looking out for themselves and didn't even listen to what I was searching for.
Haloweenman is the goat
I really enjoy when someone that's selling me fragrances do know what their job is. Last time the saleswoman was pretty upfront to me about many of the fragrances in their catalogue that are pushed to clients by some but don't last more than 4 hours on skin or are very uninteresting. Funny that I see lots of vendors trying to push Invictus to young men like me but that one didn't, she actually warned me off that one. Respect.
I heard many weird stuff from sellers tho, some SA called CH Men Prive fresh and clean... Dior Homme hasn't changed... Sauvage and Toy Boy are for the same purpose...
One time at an Ulta I literally bought 3 fragrances I could have found much cheaper at discounters just to flex as a matter of principle. I was dressed down I guess you could say... ripped jeans, sneakers, a graphic t, and a wearing a bandana with a snapback over it. And I have a lot of tattoos. The sales associate came up with an immediate smug look and asked if she could help, and I asked her about pricing on a couple things because the bottle sizes on the shelf didn't match the labels. She proceeded to tell me they were very expensive and tried to direct me to less expensive fragrances, explaining that they were much more affordable, rather than anything about the performance, quality, or smell. I told her I was familiar with them and wasn't interested. She tried to steer me toward more things that were cheaper every time I would ask about something I actually wanted. I quickly realized what was going on, "book by the cover" & all, so I just picked up a bottle of Bleu De Chanel EDP, Gucci Made To Measure, and Dolce & Gabbana The One EDP, then said "Oh, I see you have the smaller bottle of Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau Extreme, but to do you carry the 3.4 oz?" She replied hesitantly and said they were currently out, so I said "that's unfortunate" and made my way to the counter to make the purchase of everything. She asked me if I needed her assistance in carrying everything, and I simply replied "nah, I got this."
Never let others influence your decisions. The only one who won was her.
@@ultimatetrex1999 Are you kidding? I might have paid a little more than necessary, but I got 3 great fragrances that I love. Had I not been as financially stable as I was then, it might have gone differently, but it definitely felt like the right thing to do in the moment, and I have no regrets.
Would’ve been different if you got 🐱for your trouble
During lockdown the local department store were closed for walk in customers but still delivering. I emailed and asked what batch of Aventus I would receive if I ordered then. They actually got hold of Creed and were told there were no batch variations and I think they thought I was a little crazy! 😂
I had almost the exact same experience with Macys and Bleu Electrique. Actually had to show the saleswoman the product on the Macys website before she believed me. Told me I should work for them and I laughed.
This is true! I was at the mall two days ago, this young dude at this perfume kiosk tried selling me some French deep sense eau de parfum along with the deep sense sport as a special, both bottles for 120.00. as I was talking to him I checked the prices. I can get a bottle of each one for 25. Seriously, these kids don't know how to sell things.
This was a great topic to cover interesting to see what other fragheads go thru..smh much respect Ash keep it going bro✊🏾
While it isn't exactly the marketing blurb that we're sometimes sold, you'd be surprised how hands on Chanel, Guerlain and increasingly Dior are with producers of specific raw products.
I go to a place called Dillard's, the same guy is always in there. He knows his fragrances inside and out. I just can't believe how knowledgeable he is about every single fragrance and he is spot on from the initial spray to the dry down. If I'm going in to buy a fragrance I have already done my research. Everything that I know he confirms as correct but then he typically has even more additional information. He is an amazing associate, I'm really glad he happens to work where I shop for fragrances.
Your content helps me get through hard times ngl it’s nice to unwind to some RUclips. Keep it up 👍
Once, I went to sephora (I was wearing ysl y edp) and the first cologne the girl recommended me was ysl y edp…
My favorite associate at Macy’s always hooks me up with the best samples. I usually spend 5k a year at the fragrance counter there.
Thank you for this! I laughed out loud. As a contrast: I gifted myself Angel Share for Xmas and the sales associate gave me a HUGE sample of a gelee royale cream "to protect my bald head in the winter"
As a sales associate, my manager wants us to sell the higher priced niche fragrances, because they make more money for the store. We're encouraged to try to talk customers out of name brand designer and push them towards our house brands.
In contrast to this, I had a great experience with a very knowledgeable sales woman at Saks In Boston's Back Bay. In fairness to the counter workers at Macy's and the rest, this sure sounds like what you get when store management treats sales people as interchangeable and puts someone from the kitchenwares department behind the fragrance counter. Kudos to places like Saks that don't seem to do that. I try to buy a bottle at retail every so often and make sure to make that purchase somewhere I feel like has earned my business.
Whenever I walk into a fragrance store and take the first breath the first thing that gets into my mind after 0.1 seconds is „I already can’t smell anything anymore, even if I sample something it’s gonna be a blind buy“.
I was at Sephora this weekend & noticed this guy talking to the associates. Don’t think she knew much about fragrances. This was his first time in buying a cologne. I own several colognes now & was confident in talking to the guy. I recommend him YSL the Y edp. He ended up buying the 100ml bottle. The female associate thank me.
You should do a video on Iris fragrances for men. I love the Iris note but can’t afford niche!
Thank you for the rant about naturals. As a chemist this is a huge pet peeve!!!
I had a really bad experience at my local Neiman Marcus. Sales associate at Roja Parfums was trying to get me to buy the Elysium. She was like you should buy it, it's expensive. I was like, I'm not going buy it just because it's expensive. I asked her about the concentration and some of the notes. She said it's a parfum concentration, it's in the name of the company, Roja Parfums. She proceeded to tell me that all of Rojas fragrances were parfums and they use all natural oils, 65% or higher in fragrance oils. So, I asked her how does she know this and to that she replied, I've been to their factory and Roja Dove himself told her that when he visited this particular Neiman location. I just didn't know what to say to her or if I should even reply to her, I just walked away
I was at Macy’s asking if they carried Chanel Allure Homme Edition Blanche (I was not aware that it was an online exclusive), and she looked at me confused and said that it doesn’t exist. She said they carry the entire line of Chanel Allure Homme and this is all that Chanel makes and that I’m probably confused about the names. I insisted that it was real and she rolled her eyes at me. I showed her on my phone the fragrance on the Chanel website and she said that it must be a new release and that they’ll be getting it soon and to come back in a couple weeks. I never came back because she was being patronizing, and this was early on in my fragrance journey.
Great video Ash! Loved hearing these stories, looking forward to more, 👍
Had to watch cause I’ve sold fragrance for 6 years. Some of these are wild, but the best I’ve heard was someone being told at Sephora Acqua di Gio was discountinued because it was out of stock.
I’ve always had 2 rules for my employees: 1. Know you’re stuff, and 2. If you don’t know, be honest, and offer to look anything up for your customer. The stuff people get fed in this industry is crazy.
We need to remember that the sale associates go home and leave the job at their workplace. Theyre not like use. They dont really live and breath (and smell) fragrances the way we do.
I actually loved this video🤣 it was a breath of fresh air tbh. Keep coming up with new ideas for videos bro. I've fallen off the fragrance game for a year now after accumulating 90 bottles so unique videos like this keep me coming back. I realized im not as much as an enthusiast as I thought. Love fragrances still but my interests change, like now I cant stop buying motorcycles 🤣
Motorcycles are a bit more dangerous and expensive man
@@GentsScents expensive yes, dangerous?....well thats what makes it worthwhile sir 🤘🏽😎
More of these ! I am still a beginner but man i'm glad i have an idea what to look out for in these stores now, I'm gonna visit one one of these days to see what they tell me lol
This could come down to a “everyone’s nose is different” type of situation but I went to a Macy’s a few days ago and while I was browsing I overheard the fragrance associate tell this other customer that she “doesn’t understand why versace is so popular because they die out immediately after you spray, they’re basically like bath and body works sprays”.
lol this is really cracking me i worked at Macy's many years ago but i worked cosmetic sales usually it's the reps that come in that know the real info on the fragrances. some of the sales associates try to listen and learn so they can repeat what they hear....but they really don't get it right at times.
A young sales lady at Macy's told me to buy Dior Fahrenheit because it was being discontinued and got her fellow SA in on it to double push the sale.
Yeah, I've rarely left a fragrance counter without them telling me I should be working there 😁. I am usually there to sample releases from the preceding 1-2 months, and they are mostly giving me the sales pitch on whichever 3-4 scents are being pushed the hardest - once they see my knowledge of their entire inventory they'll often start digging for tips they can use to sell other stuff, which I am more than happy to provide.
I had one lady in the same session tell me that bleu de Chanel was a winter fragrance and also try to convince me that the YSL Y bottle sitting on the ysl l’homme display thing was indeed YSL l’homme and not YSL Y
Typically I go to dept stores just to try something, I almost never buy my fragrances from them because they are usually overpriced.
Yeah I go to my local John Lewis a lot to sample stuff. I have bought a few from there, but I usually get them elsewhere for cheaper 👍
I am downright thankful for the peeps manning the perfume discount shops that I haunt that they do not pressure me on choosing stuff that I don't like. The worst that I get is a side eye.
At macys once, I was sampling some new scents. Told the salesman I did not like them. He then said he had other flavors to show me 🤣
Idk man I just watch GentScents, I would never go to a Macy's or Sephora, every fragrance I've bought the last year was a recommendation here, though Encre Noire can only be worn by lumberjacks!
Best video in a long while. Great take on the topic.
In the UK, Liverpool there are some knowledgeable sales assistants in the likes of Boots, the fragrance shop, and perfume shop. A woman in boots once offered me Prada Amber pour Homme, me being unaware of it, I turned it down and bought Le Male. I so much prefer the prada, gentle, clean and lasts a while too.
My favorite was someone telling me that Luna Rossa carbon smelled similar to Tucson (like the city in Arizona) leather.
My sales associate encounter had nothing to do with knowledge of fragrance but more involving profiling.
My nephew and I walk into a fragrance store( not Macy's) to make some purchases. I asked the girl at the counter about fragrance, and if they had any samples( wasn't Macy's) the managers spoke up and stated but they didn't but it was with a certain tone.
I've been asked about a certain fragrance I was interested in and because the young lady was nice she didn't know so once again she asked the manager. And I didn't have that fragrance, while told the new girl while let me smell something.
Once I made a selection search my nephew"what do you want?" That's when they manage all of a sudden wanted to be helpful that's when I blew her off.
We walked out the store and I'd spent $200 and I made sure the young girl got to sale.
I just got a job as a sales associate at Nordstrom. Any tips on how to not be like the people mentioned in the video?
I went to the german equivalent of sephora and asked if they have the new CH Bad Boy Cobalt and the lady just gave me the CH Bad Boy Le Parfum and told me that it is the same fragrance. After I showed her the fragrance on google she insisted that the blue cobalt bottle was a fake and that i‘m wrong.
Their whole attitude changes when they find out you are a collector and have in depth knowledge of the fragrances they are trying to sell you.
Just goes to show how rare it is that people have knowledge and a general interest in fragrances. Many people that have worked in the field for years have no experience or interest in fragrances...may also represent the small number of people that wear niche scents.
Has anyone experienced the sales associates ignoring you because you appear to them that you're not going to buy but it's only because you have mostly all the fragrances they have available and looking for something you don't have that you'll like?
A guy at Dillards once did me that in the Tom Ford section! He was like Sir that fragrance is $225 maybe you should try the Dior Section. I was like nah I own most of those I’ll take this one and give me that one as well. I felt I was being profiled but remained calm. I then said you know what I’ll let her help me out. In case of the woman got the commission.
It would be cool if you could do a tour of a larger perfumer, sit down with a designer and walk through the process. I know you did an episode in the process, but field trips are always more fun. Plus, Chelsea deserves a European vacation
On a live stream couple of weeks back Eugen asked an SA the notes of the new TF Rose de Russie. She went on to show him the ingredients on the back of the box 😂😂😂
I just wish I didn’t always get tackled and have a bottle of Sauvage EDT forced down my throat every time I walk into a macy’s especially since that fragrance is 6 years old now. 💀
Hate the fragrance sales, whenever i stop to check some fragrance, the only they have to say is "try this one it's new", "this one is sale price" I'm tired of explain them that I don't looking for "new" fragrance, I'm looking for something new for me not just new.
I once had a sales associate tell me there really wasn’t any difference between the edt and EDP version of Spicebomb Night Vision…
I was like… Weeeeeeellll… Im still going to go with the EDP.
Or…. A customer experience.
Some guy was trying to flex his fragrance knowledge about Valentino Uomo and Uomo Intense.. Talking about the “lipsticky” Iris and so on…
Problem was… He was smelling yellow Dream and born in Roma..
I didn’t say anything… just strolled away.
I agree with some others here. Like in a movie, I JUST RUN AWAY FROM "M A C Y' S" sales associates, They are like birds of pray . At least here in Florida. If you approach the fragrance desk when it seems nobody's around, they soon spot you from their talk-group and disband and fall on us , a prospect customer just trying to sample . Nowadays, I RUN AWAY like in the old classic movie THE BIRDS. Really, it is sad they are encourage by Macy's to do that, but they are really annoying.
The case with Macy’s is sad, especially when they use that condescending tone. I was talking with a rep once while tryings ome bottles from John Varvatos, at some point I told her I like or was looking for an aquatic fragrance, and she told me aquatics did not exist, asking what notes would an aquatic have. Too bad I usually avoid arguing.
Reps at Macy’s get mad when you just come and try, but there is no way I’m buying full price when I can get it for half the price online in some cases…
In regards to the guy who pulled up the Macy's website to show an SA a product she said they didn't sell. I once ordered a top shelf Long Island Iced Tea from a bar I used to frequent. When I got it, it didn't have the main ingredient in it that prompted me to order it. I let the bartender know and his response was that the drink didn't come with that. I assured him it did and he said no it doesn't. So, with the drink menu right in front of me, I opened it, showed him the ingredients to the drink and there it was. During this whole exchange I was very polite and he apologized and offered to bring me a fresh drink properly made. I said, no that's okay. I'll drink this but when I get my second please have it made properly.
I recently got gaslit by a Chanel saleswoman, she was nice overall but when she sprayed the fresh flanker of Chanel Chance and asked me what difference I smell (my nose is not the best) I told her citrus and she just shook her head and said teak wood. While I'm sure there's teak in the fragrance, and Fragrantica confirms this, it's probably much more visible in the dry down and not as prominent in the opening.
The craziest one I got is I went into the biggest mall ive ever been to in my life. 3 levels. Absolutely massive. All high fancy designer stores. I went into a bloomingdales that was about the size of a normal building all on its own. An older fragrance salesman with a suit and tie came up and asked how he could help me. If I was looking for anything in particular. He was shakey and I could see he had some sort of disability physically that cause his hand to shake. I thought it was really nice and company and place would hire someone like that to work in a really high end mall and all that. Anyways, after he asked if he could help with anything I went "Yes. I wanna wear something smokey. Something with a smokey note in it." I figured he would lead my to creed aventus and then I'd go "Yeah I like this but got anything cheaper with a smoke note?" That didn't happen. He went "Well...the only thing u can think of that is smokey is this.." and he lead me to Jimmy choo man ice. I was newish to the fragrance world so I didn't say anything and I wasn't as experienced or knowledgeable as I am now but I figured something with the name "Ice" in it didn't have smokey notes in it. And correct I was. And now looking back you could even argue something in the vetiver line from Heremes could classify as smokey. I got a smokey note from the eau intense. But nope didn't recommend that. He went on to recommend Coach as well.
I may be wrong, but I worked at macys for like one month in highschool and they made commission, so a lot of the sales associates were overly aggressive because most of the pay came from sales commission. Maybe I’m wrong and they changed the pay structure but that definitely could be a reason why employees make up stuff to make extra sales