2 weeks ago I started to clean my office and while destroying lot of old paper documents I decided to watch fragrances review videos since i didn't have a good fragrance for autumn and winter. I very soon realized that thousands of people are developing an addiction to compulsively buy fragrances and it's painful to watch. It's clearly insane. I have now 6 bottles and i am waiting for other 2. In the last 2 weeks i basically got 5 bottles which means that in just 2 weeks i was brainwashed to think that it's a good thing to collect fragrances. The trend is quite scary and creepy and addiction goes fast like that for cigarettes basically.
The fragrance community, particularly the reviewers, should also be more responsible towards their subscribers.. They should be very honest with their reviews - It looks like they try to promote and push the new fragrances often. They unnecessarily hype ordinary fragrances into super fragrances - For example Sauvage - a big hype is going on - If you own Bleu de Chanel, Terre de hermes, Sauvage is not required. If you have Tobacco Vanille or Chergui, you do not need Mobster. You are also right on compliments - I have nearly 70 bottles - Niche and designers - Amouages, Creed, Serge Lutens, Dior, Chanels - but during these two years of fragrance journey I am yet TO RECEIVE ONE UNSOLICITED COMPLIMENT. I enjoy fragrances - it has become my hobby albeit expensive one - Now I have reduced my purchases - Whenever I feel like buying fragrances, instead of buying, I DONATE THAT AMOUNT TO CHARITY AND TO MY STRUGGLING RELATIVES. It is more satisfying. Will I buy fragrances in the future? You bet I will.. but only rarely.. Helping poor and needy is more satisfying than smelling good!!
Dawood Shaik I’m partially agreed with you but I can’t criticize fragrances RUclips reviewers since they are doing their job, you have something that called “free will” so you have to decided whatever you want to do. If a fragrance is HYPE is up to you to buy it. So there’s no correlation what you just said “bought all hype fragrance, doesn’t work therefore blame fragrance you tuber reviewers therefore becoming MARIA TERESA DE CALCULA lol 😂 “
Same here.I have dontated money to 'Save a Child Foundation' yesterday by refusing to accept order of 200ml versace dylan blue. A girl of 8 years old named Gunjan get burned. Her parents are very poor. If anyone want to help them I can send the email which this organisation has send me.
Thank you for speaking out against the misogyny of “panty dropper perfumes” and “scents that get you laid.” It is offensive and dehumanizing. Character matters more.
I just recently started listening to perfume reviews and I've found that phrase quite gross, to put it mildly. I've also found it odd how many people focus on whether or not a perfume garners compliments, as opposed to whether or not they like and enjoy it for themselves.
I should've watched this video before. I am already in the clone trap, for aventus. I have 8 bottles that reviewers claim it is the number 1 clone of aventus. Just like you said with that money I could've bought the real creed aventus. And you know what the funniest thing is? I have never smelled aventus.
"YOU ARE NOT EARNING FROM BUYING PERFUMES GUYS, SO YOU DO NOT HAVE FREEDOM TO BUY EACH AND EVERY SCENT JUST BECAUSE A NEW FRAGRENCE IS MARKETED" Trust me this line actually Baptized me today Very well and beautifully said Sir!!!! So I looked for this ADDICTION related topic on RUclips (As my purchases were getting more day by day) and this video popped up and made me realize if I am really a collector or just someone who is looking for compliments. The reviews and comments on this video were pretty helpful as well. As one sir in the comments section mentioned "Giving money to needy people is better than smelling good" it really gave me something to think about what I was doing. After watching this video I must say I will now forbid myself from purchasing another bottle till the time I feel like I have EARNED IT. Thank you so much for this Beautiful video and for me A LESSON. my comment may not be anything for you but trust me, this video literally made me smile. Thank you SO DAMN MUCH. I appreciate it. Oh and yes I just want to ask you one small thing if I may, How many perfumes do you actually own? You can ignore this question if thats too much. Thank you once again.
Anyone watching and subsequently reading this: sample, sample, sample, buy small decants. Put some work in. Buy small before you commit big. Then when you really know what you like buy it. You’re talking to a guy (me) who has 200 bottles of fragrance and i just finally found the ones i love and have halted my purchasing. Ill be selling and giving away a lot of what i own. I wish i had followed the same advice I’m giving you. GREAT video.
Excellent video and tips! The only tip I respectfully disagree with is reading the reviews, blogs, forums...they fuel my desire to try more! I have to pull myself away from them to calm the appetite. Something you didn't mention that works for me is that, when I am considering a purchase, I sit down with my collection and go over my fragrances. I often find I already have something similar to what I am eyeing and don't need another one in that scent family. I am more of an indie oil fan (US based companies like Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, Solstice Scents and Nocturne Alchemy) and those companies are always having new releases to temp one into sweet smelling bliss, so it is particularly important to keep up on what one has. Recently I have been getting into attars, which look like another endless road! Thank you for your great videos! (And thank you for saying "panty dropper" is not an appropriate term for the perfume community. As a woman, I find it offensive and you are right, no matter how good a man smells, unless he is kind, intelligent and has a sense of humor, he has no sex appeal!)
Consumers falling for "honey traps" aka the Top Notes.... What an AWESOMELY ENLIGHTENING INSIGHT!! THANK YOU BROTHER! I WILL DEFINITELY KEEP THIS IN MIND... GREAT LESSON !!
“They’ve become rarer than uranium” LOL ..how true this is bro, I needed this video along with others on the topic, my collection is getting really large, it’s time to enjoy what I have and save $$$, thanks for the reality check!
This vid and the one made by "Bottom Note" concerning fragrance addiction are the best made by members of the fragcom. Every reviewer should make a video on this topic and put it as the first video to be seen on its home page channel. Honesty is so important and rare this days..... Take care my friend.
Proud for being a Subcriber brother.. Really inspired and made me think . An eye opener for all buddy frag lovers even 5yrs old video it really help people to save their financials thanks literally 👌🎈
Now I'm into more niche houses I just buy decants until I find one I like and save my money for that fragrance. I must have 100 decants but less than 20 bottles. But I still wear the decants but I don't need a fancy bottle to make me happy. It's weird that I commented on this video a year ago and followed all of your tips and I'm much happier.
Great video bro, There are a lot of people in the community ( including my self at times) where we dont realize how much $$we are spending for something that gona just sit in the closet. Not to mention the time we spend looking for deals and reviews. Bottom note has a very expressing video as well. Great job guys!
I think this is one of the best videos I have watched in your video series. Very realistic approach to the expensive hobby. I see you as very authentic, passionate and down to earth who has gone through many phases in this hobby. Wonderful! Well done! I am learning and enjoying your videos quite a lot. Applauses!!!
Great advice. I recently got into this hobby and fell for a couple of the traps you mentioned. This is a good hobby for me because I'm disabled and there isn't much I can do. Luckily I haven't made too many mistakes. My biggest ones are falling for the hype and blind buying. I got burned on Zara Rich Warm Addictive but everything else I enjoy out of my collection to the point where I buy back up bottles rather than searching for new fragrances. I budget myself to one designer a month or a niche every 2 to 3 months. I try to keep my collection at 20 bottles which I think is high. I have caretakers that put on my cologne so I get a lot of feedback about which ones most people like. I didn't realize how much money you can spend in a short time. Now my designer collection is complete I just have a couple niche to get but I have to follow my rules. Thanks for the video I just subscribed
Thanks for this Nikhil! this was an eye-opener. I was on the verge of 'obsessed', acquired 20 botttles in 3 months. I've drawn the line there. In my opinion, an average guy doesn't need more than 6 fragrances: 2 for summer, 2 for winter, 1 for outdoors / clubbing and 1 for Those special occasions. I'll try and downsize to that level soon!
Simply! U r the real Guru... The tips you told seems as u share my experience thru which I passed in few recent months. These tips are really e beacon light for new casual users like me. 👍
I gave up buying anything for Lent this year (2018). (What I tend to buy is perfume, mostly.) So instead of shopping during the 40 days of Lent, I made lists of the perfumes I wanted to purchase after Easter.. Well, that list changed day by day! But in keeping with my penance, I consigned myself to testing fragrances at the perfume counter and adjusted my after-Easter-shopping list accordingly. I can't even begin to tell you how much that perfume "wish list" changed over the ensuing 40 days; and, more importantly, I learned an invaluable lesson - how good it is to wait. It is now my routine to wait a full 40 days without buying a single perfume before I go out on Day 41 to shop. And when I do, my laundry list of (typically) dozens of fragrances always gets distilled and honed done to 2, maybe 3 selections. Here's the summary statement: There's nothing quite like thoughtful discipline and study to enhance the making of good choices. Thank you so much for all you do for this alluring art. Doc
Dr. Kathleen Ruddy this is such good advice. I got out of this in 2013 because I was just spending too much and realizing I was never satisfied. After 5 years I’m wading back in and I’m feeling that urge to accumulate again but I’m like “you have to stick to the plan “. The plan is I have 2 or 3 I know I like and will wear or am replenishing 1 that’s run out. Those I can buy in the next month. Then 2 months out is another 1 or 2 that I’m replacing but are more pricey and I want to make sure I’m willing to spend that. Then 3 months out are ones that I need to sample but sound like something I’d like based off descriptions. I figured 90 days would allow the emotional high to wear off and really determine if this is something I’d wear.
Read this carefully: The smaller your collection, the more you will enjoy the fragrances in that collection. I’ve probably bought around 40-50 frags, but I’ve sold off or thrown away most of them. My hard limit is now 20. I’d rather buy decants. It takes a very long time to use up even one single bottle. There is no need to have dozens. Collect decants instead so you can actually have a shot at using up the juice you’ve purchased. I have a rule that I must use up a decant before I buy a bottle and if I buy a new bottle I have to sell one or get rid of it. Always look for ways to disqualify a frag from being purchased. It needs to do its job better than any other. It needs to perform. It needs to have appeal. Have criteria and hold every frag to the highest standard. Your taste will develop over time so waiting is always a good idea. Your top five scents will change from smelling your first 20 frags to after you’ve smelled 200.
Another great fragrance discussion. I would like to share my experience in this ascent nice perfume journey BUT I do NOT disagree with your advice about blind buys. I'm 57 years of age and still have vivid memories of my passion from fragrance dating back to my freshman year in high school vivid! At some point, I switched to oils/attars that were incense forward...solely oils for about 25 years. My niche perfume journey began last year. It began with Le Labo (for whom I will be eternally grateful), then Creed and then the floodgates just opened to endless options. (Presently back to exploring attars thanks, in large part, to you) During this year, and without the benefit of a fragrance mentor, I instinctively adopted your advice on research. I started using RUclips for the first time ever and discovered RUclips fragrance reviewers with whom I connected. I began researching perfumery. I re-affirmed my fragrance DNA preferences. I began identifying Parfum Houses that matched my fragrance preferences. Based upon all of the above, which is grounded in research and introspection, most of my niche purchases have been blind buys...and all have been successful. Again, these blind buys are a bit of a 'cheat' because of the extensive research and reliance on trusted reviewers and Parfume Houses: i.e., the probability of a great blind buy is enhanced exponentially if it is based upon a review by someone like your self and from a favorite House like Amouage and Xerjoff. Even as I expanded my fragrance journey to include 'freshies' and attars, my blind buys never cease to delight me. Again, I wouldn't recommend this to everyone BUT did wish to share a personal perspective on this specific topic with you.
Great video!!! Loved every tip! Especially blind buying. I don't understand people who enjoy blind buys! Every nose is different and I pride myself in having my unique, so I can never go by someone's opinion just like that and purchase a fragrance without testing it. On top of that, I enjoy the whole testing and sampling experience, I get butterflies from it!!! I could never live without it that experience!
Easy buddy. You want to know where I get my best compliments from? Old Avon bottles of men's cologne I find at thrift stores and especially garage sales.
Thank you for this vid. Jeremy Fragrance had me blind buying all types of nonsense. Plus the same frags were on others top list. Like Bleu de Chanel and Gio Parfumo whatever. I pretty much blind bought them at a discounted price. But I still hate them basically. I realized like you said trust your nose. I take reviews with a grain of salt but I will only buy what my nose likes. I fell into many of the pitfalls you mentioned. Luckily I've be getting them for about 85% off retail, which still adds up ridiculously.
I just found your channel and I really enjoy the few I've watched. I've gone on a similar route as you explained, designer to niche to indie. Right now I am mostly at the niche part haven't explored any indie yet. I still very much enjoy the designers I have and exploring the niche is a slower process but I am enjoying the journey. The budget thing I also agree on I have acquired a few to many recently and I will be taking a break for a few months after my one bottle comes in. I need to take a step back and enjoy what I have.
Excellent video. I'm a frag head who's learning. And this video helped cement some aspects of the learning curve. I really like your videos. Thank you.
Found this video a lil bit too late.. but, better late than never, right? Thx a lot brother.. well said... i will share this video to Indonesian fragrance Community. 🙏
Very interesting that you literally advice people that have already fragrance addiction. It is very simple if 2 bottles of creed is equivalent to a summer vacation by yourself in the Bahamas for example. Then you know something is wrong with you. It is not the fact the you have plenty of money is the fact that you are investing it in something that doesn’t give you any value and/or profit. Great video. Hope you found another hobby more value in real life. Blessings
I wish this is one of the first five videos that frag heads see when they are starting out. If there was sticky video on the fragrance search list, this should be it. As far me the lord knows that I don't make enough to be "spraying money in the air" so this and the advice I got from Shri.Satyajeet Dharmadhikari would hold me in good steed. Thank you Sir. Blessings upon you for sharing of your experience and knowledge. Thank you.
I've been checking out Arabian Legend Men since last year but it's so expensive for a blind buy I just hoped it might pop up somewhere for a more blind buy safe number...lol...Really appreciated your take on these subjects Nik...
Everything can be an addiction if we don't control it and do it in moderation. It's all about feeding the dopamine hit that makes us feel good. In this case it's about getting compliments. I enjoy watching fragrance reviews to learn more about the notes. Ultimately it will be my decision as to buy the product and not be influenced by anyone else. I don't think you need to wear fragrance everyday and need to stress about wearing the right fragrance for the occasion. There's no written rules about when or where to use your fragrance. Just enjoy the smell and do it in your own way as it's all subjective.
Lol this hobby kicked my ass. In 12 months I spent $6000 on my 55 plus bottles now. Niche and designer included. I love the hobby though and would do it all over again. I'm still excited to purchase more and going strong.
Who made this kind of video, that's show how you care about others and also fragrance too, Gentleman you are a real "Guru" ,real real "Perfume Guru" ,thank you, God bless you so much.
Good one Nikhil, I am in to collecting fragrances for past 3 years , i have about 18 bottles, except for three fragrances which i completed fully and bought new ones, the rest of the collection is warming my shelf and i was not able to use even 50% of the juice. Earlier i used to buy the fragrances from the designer counters in the shopping malls, i had a bit of control over me, oflate i started to buy perfumes online, God it is so addictive,trying really hard to control myself from spending. Now i have started to postpone my decision of buying new ones by day or two, when ever i get tempted to explore new, and it really helps to give a second thought on spending unnecessarily.
Rarer than uranium??? Haha Nikhil, your video was very useful and timely, and also entertaining. I changed now to niche perfumes, but my initial craze boiled down to my old fragrance habits, just rotate 4-5 full bottles and have the rest of my full bottles sitting on the shelves. I have a fragrance library of niche scents, and pure oud oils, but mostly in the form of samples. Why spend $$$$$ to have them all in full bottles or tolas, if $$$ can buy me their samples. Many are so different from my every day life I wouldn’t wear them regularly anyhow. I don’t need gallons of those elixirs, why fill swimming pools here. My samples like full bottles just sit around un-sniffed most of the time, since I have to focus on life outside perfumes. These perfumes are just like a drop of fragrant paradise.
I have used single note essential oils since the 90's and woke up one day wishing to find marigold perfume whilst the initial isolation of the pandemic was underway...and discovered the house of Swiss Arabian. Thank you for the timely advise! So easy to become obsessed with oud perfumes! I love the sample packs, they're rolling out one on a new collection called Sawalef that I'm excited to try. Best wishes 🙂
Helped me very much with this. Thanx for your advices and for all that you give us. Your channel is very important for us. You are our perfume messiah!!! 🤗🙏
Yet very informative upload from you. Vintage collectors Hahaha there were some flash of names on my head... Lol and am sure u know few of them am talking about. There was always this thing going on with me what's the fuss with these vintage and u just said all there. A very useful tip for the beginner uv shared I wish such was the tip provided to us when we had begin our journey. Also you covered very beautifully of not falling into trap of misleading sellers very well covered, great video as usual... Cheers!!
wow. I am suprised you got so little views here, bc you are speaking language of facts. I wish more people to watch it, bc when you are young and trying to search your 1st signature smell, you can easily overwhalmed by amount of fragrances in the world.
I really dig this video!! I love fragrance colognes and oils!! Thus video is the ultimate breakdown here!! Great job my brother 👊👊very informative for us perfumers
Great video and as a new collector, some very good tips that can avoid draining your wallet. I've made some blind buy mistakes and hope to use your advice on any future purchases.
Hey super tips man, thanks for that! When you say buying partial bottles... where do you look into that, for example? I love the tip about calling your best friend for a long conversation to get over the buy-now-impulse, HAHAHAHA!! Thanks, Mark
Cedrat Boise is not a clone, I love the natural smelling birch and pineapple in Aventus it was unique back in the day, yet I choose Cedrat Boise over Aventus I just love it, CB is just stunning and absolute beast in performance.
Very clear, reluctant, neutral and unbiased opinions and definitely enlightening our knowledge to go through a proper path of fragrance hobby That’s why I like Nikhil bhai
Absolutely fabulous advice, tips and experience. As one who has just recently found myself on this journey I'm already encountering so much of what you've shared here. And encouraged by your suggestions. Yes I've been worried, am I getting a bit too compulsive with this. You've begun to create a map of possibilities for the journey. Options. I'm so thankful. M
Two thumbs up for the awesome content. It felt like listening to a counselling session in a rehab LOL. I like my tres nuit as much as I like my very little left GIT and I don't think I would be spending on GIT again. So pursuing clones isn't really a bad thing always, as long as you don't overdo it.
I understand what you said about the clone trap but....how do you feel about buying oils that are based on designer or niche fragrances opposed to buying clone alcohol based colognes ?
Very good. One think I noticed when started this journey was, I always bought 100ml, if you think about it is a better investment right? But, when you start to collect and see that those 100ml are 95% after a year you realize it was worth it to spend a bit more but get 2 diferent fragrances of 50ml or even 30ml then that one of 100ml
You are right it is better to get a sample of the real thing..I totally see reviewers being pushy about massa appealing fragrances that is why I admire your chanel you are not corporate kissing.
Awesome video with some really valuable tips. Thanks Nikhil for sharing your knowledge about perfumery. Looking forward to seeing more of your amazing videos.
Great video. Thanks for the tips and I agree with you, compliments mix with your personality. The perfume just adds a little extra but it's not going to all of a sudden win you what is not already present. I've blind bought a few things. Mostly regrets. lol. Now I sample for sure first.
2 weeks ago I started to clean my office and while destroying lot of old paper documents I decided to watch fragrances review videos since i didn't have a good fragrance for autumn and winter. I very soon realized that thousands of people are developing an addiction to compulsively buy fragrances and it's painful to watch. It's clearly insane. I have now 6 bottles and i am waiting for other 2. In the last 2 weeks i basically got 5 bottles which means that in just 2 weeks i was brainwashed to think that it's a good thing to collect fragrances. The trend is quite scary and creepy and addiction goes fast like that for cigarettes basically.
The fragrance community, particularly the reviewers, should also be more responsible towards their subscribers.. They should be very honest with their reviews - It looks like they try to promote and push the new fragrances often. They unnecessarily hype ordinary fragrances into super fragrances - For example Sauvage - a big hype is going on - If you own Bleu de Chanel, Terre de hermes, Sauvage is not required. If you have Tobacco Vanille or Chergui, you do not need Mobster.
You are also right on compliments - I have nearly 70 bottles - Niche and designers - Amouages, Creed, Serge Lutens, Dior, Chanels - but during these two years of fragrance journey I am yet TO RECEIVE ONE UNSOLICITED COMPLIMENT. I enjoy fragrances - it has become my hobby albeit expensive one -
Now I have reduced my purchases - Whenever I feel like buying fragrances, instead of buying, I DONATE THAT AMOUNT TO CHARITY AND TO MY STRUGGLING RELATIVES. It is more satisfying. Will I buy fragrances in the future? You bet I will.. but only rarely.. Helping poor and needy is more satisfying than smelling good!!
Dawood Shaik I’m partially agreed with you but I can’t criticize fragrances RUclips reviewers since they are doing their job, you have something that called “free will” so you have to decided whatever you want to do. If a fragrance is HYPE is up to you to buy it. So there’s no correlation what you just said “bought all hype fragrance, doesn’t work therefore blame fragrance you tuber reviewers therefore becoming MARIA TERESA DE CALCULA lol 😂 “
Same here.I have dontated money to 'Save a Child Foundation' yesterday by refusing to accept order of 200ml versace dylan blue.
A girl of 8 years old named Gunjan get burned. Her parents are very poor. If anyone want to help them I can send the email which this organisation has send me.
Thank you for speaking out against the misogyny of “panty dropper perfumes” and “scents that get you laid.” It is offensive and dehumanizing. Character matters more.
I just recently started listening to perfume reviews and I've found that phrase quite gross, to put it mildly. I've also found it odd how many people focus on whether or not a perfume garners compliments, as opposed to whether or not they like and enjoy it for themselves.
Yea..we need more perfumes that are guaranteed to make slutty chicks soaking wet !! Like Ea De SlutChaser ! I'd buy THAT !
Exactly why finding your SIGNATURE scent is so important. Ditch everything else.
I should've watched this video before. I am already in the clone trap, for aventus. I have 8 bottles that reviewers claim it is the number 1 clone of aventus. Just like you said with that money I could've bought the real creed aventus.
And you know what the funniest thing is? I have never smelled aventus.
🤣
This is the most honest comment Ihave ever read on a fragrance chanel 😄 hands down man.
Well said
You Sir are probably the most intellectual fragrance reviewer in youtube.
A video with some great advice! Liked and subscribed! Also agree with your love of Cedrat Boise!
Videos like these need to be more common. Very good and well spoken.
"YOU ARE NOT EARNING FROM BUYING PERFUMES GUYS, SO YOU DO NOT HAVE FREEDOM TO BUY EACH AND EVERY SCENT JUST BECAUSE A NEW FRAGRENCE IS MARKETED" Trust me this line actually Baptized me today Very well and beautifully said Sir!!!! So I looked for this ADDICTION related topic on RUclips (As my purchases were getting more day by day) and this video popped up and made me realize if I am really a collector or just someone who is looking for compliments. The reviews and comments on this video were pretty helpful as well. As one sir in the comments section mentioned "Giving money to needy people is better than smelling good" it really gave me something to think about what I was doing. After watching this video I must say I will now forbid myself from purchasing another bottle till the time I feel like I have EARNED IT. Thank you so much for this Beautiful video and for me A LESSON. my comment may not be anything for you but trust me, this video literally made me smile. Thank you SO DAMN MUCH. I appreciate it. Oh and yes I just want to ask you one small thing if I may, How many perfumes do you actually own? You can ignore this question if thats too much. Thank you once again.
I love this guy. Best fragrance channel on RUclips. Hope this channel gets a lot more attention in the near future
Such sane advise. Pity i didn't find this early. would have kept my pocket intact. I would have avoided a lot of disappointment too. Thank you sir
Anyone watching and subsequently reading this: sample, sample, sample, buy small decants. Put some work in. Buy small before you commit big. Then when you really know what you like buy it. You’re talking to a guy (me) who has 200 bottles of fragrance and i just finally found the ones i love and have halted my purchasing. Ill be selling and giving away a lot of what i own. I wish i had followed the same advice I’m giving you. GREAT video.
You just cured me of my newly growing addiction. Now I'm more focused on what works for me.
Your honesty is so refreshing! Keep up the good work. I agree on all 10 points.
It is very very difficult to control the impulse and the complusion, when it comes to perfumes, good and sane advice from you
Excellent video and tips! The only tip I respectfully disagree with is reading the reviews, blogs, forums...they fuel my desire to try more! I have to pull myself away from them to calm the appetite. Something you didn't mention that works for me is that, when I am considering a purchase, I sit down with my collection and go over my fragrances. I often find I already have something similar to what I am eyeing and don't need another one in that scent family. I am more of an indie oil fan (US based companies like Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, Solstice Scents and Nocturne Alchemy) and those companies are always having new releases to temp one into sweet smelling bliss, so it is particularly important to keep up on what one has. Recently I have been getting into attars, which look like another endless road! Thank you for your great videos! (And thank you for saying "panty dropper" is not an appropriate term for the perfume community. As a woman, I find it offensive and you are right, no matter how good a man smells, unless he is kind, intelligent and has a sense of humor, he has no sex appeal!)
Extremely useful tips for beginners, thank you so much!
Consumers falling for "honey traps" aka the Top Notes....
What an AWESOMELY ENLIGHTENING INSIGHT!! THANK YOU BROTHER!
I WILL DEFINITELY KEEP THIS IN MIND...
GREAT LESSON !!
“They’ve become rarer than uranium” LOL ..how true this is bro, I needed this video along with others on the topic, my collection is getting really large, it’s time to enjoy what I have and save $$$, thanks for the reality check!
This vid and the one made by "Bottom Note" concerning fragrance addiction are the best made by members of the fragcom. Every reviewer should make a video on this topic and put it as the first video to be seen on its home page channel. Honesty is so important and rare this days..... Take care my friend.
Proud for being a Subcriber brother.. Really inspired and made me think . An eye opener for all buddy frag lovers even 5yrs old video it really help people to save their financials thanks literally 👌🎈
Now I'm into more niche houses I just buy decants until I find one I like and save my money for that fragrance. I must have 100 decants but less than 20 bottles. But I still wear the decants but I don't need a fancy bottle to make me happy. It's weird that I commented on this video a year ago and followed all of your tips and I'm much happier.
Great video bro, There are a lot of people in the community ( including my self at times) where we dont realize how much $$we are spending for something that gona just sit in the closet. Not to mention the time we spend looking for deals and reviews. Bottom note has a very expressing video as well. Great job guys!
Great vid. I’m glad he talked about personality not fragrance for compliments
I think this is one of the best videos I have watched in your video series. Very realistic approach to the expensive hobby. I see you as very authentic, passionate and down to earth who has gone through many phases in this hobby. Wonderful! Well done! I am learning and enjoying your videos quite a lot. Applauses!!!
Great advice. I recently got into this hobby and fell for a couple of the traps you mentioned. This is a good hobby for me because I'm disabled and there isn't much I can do. Luckily I haven't made too many mistakes. My biggest ones are falling for the hype and blind buying. I got burned on Zara Rich Warm Addictive but everything else I enjoy out of my collection to the point where I buy back up bottles rather than searching for new fragrances. I budget myself to one designer a month or a niche every 2 to 3 months. I try to keep my collection at 20 bottles which I think is high. I have caretakers that put on my cologne so I get a lot of feedback about which ones most people like. I didn't realize how much money you can spend in a short time. Now my designer collection is complete I just have a couple niche to get but I have to follow my rules. Thanks for the video I just subscribed
Thanks for this Nikhil! this was an eye-opener. I was on the verge of 'obsessed', acquired 20 botttles in 3 months. I've drawn the line there. In my opinion, an average guy doesn't need more than 6 fragrances: 2 for summer, 2 for winter, 1 for outdoors / clubbing and 1 for Those special occasions. I'll try and downsize to that level soon!
Exotic Scents with Nikhil Downsizing successfully completed :D I'm on 7 bottles now
I'm new in my journey and this is necessary! I started out with the clones as well. Thanks for this! This is a real addiction.
Simply! U r the real Guru... The tips you told seems as u share my experience thru which I passed in few recent months. These tips are really e beacon light for new casual users like me. 👍
You are one of my favorite reviewers. As a beginer collecting fragrances I am learning a great amount from you. Thank vou.
This man just gave y'all the gospel
Hahaha
Lol
I'll keep returning to this. very informative. NO BLIND BUYING
Love this video! very good points and wonderful illustration with the examples! Well done Nik.
I gave up buying anything for Lent this year (2018). (What I tend to buy is perfume, mostly.) So instead of shopping during the 40 days of Lent, I made lists of the perfumes I wanted to purchase after Easter.. Well, that list changed day by day! But in keeping with my penance, I consigned myself to testing fragrances at the perfume counter and adjusted my after-Easter-shopping list accordingly. I can't even begin to tell you how much that perfume "wish list" changed over the ensuing 40 days; and, more importantly, I learned an invaluable lesson - how good it is to wait. It is now my routine to wait a full 40 days without buying a single perfume before I go out on Day 41 to shop. And when I do, my laundry list of (typically) dozens of fragrances always gets distilled and honed done to 2, maybe 3 selections. Here's the summary statement: There's nothing quite like thoughtful discipline and study to enhance the making of good choices. Thank you so much for all you do for this alluring art. Doc
Dr. Kathleen Ruddy this is such good advice. I got out of this in 2013 because I was just spending too much and realizing I was never satisfied. After 5 years I’m wading back in and I’m feeling that urge to accumulate again but I’m like “you have to stick to the plan “. The plan is I have 2 or 3 I know I like and will wear or am replenishing 1 that’s run out. Those I can buy in the next month. Then 2 months out is another 1 or 2 that I’m replacing but are more pricey and I want to make sure I’m willing to spend that. Then 3 months out are ones that I need to sample but sound like something I’d like based off descriptions. I figured 90 days would allow the emotional high to wear off and really determine if this is something I’d wear.
Read this carefully:
The smaller your collection, the more you will enjoy the fragrances in that collection.
I’ve probably bought around 40-50 frags, but I’ve sold off or thrown away most of them. My hard limit is now 20. I’d rather buy decants. It takes a very long time to use up even one single bottle. There is no need to have dozens. Collect decants instead so you can actually have a shot at using up the juice you’ve purchased. I have a rule that I must use up a decant before I buy a bottle and if I buy a new bottle I have to sell one or get rid of it.
Always look for ways to disqualify a frag from being purchased. It needs to do its job better than any other. It needs to perform. It needs to have appeal. Have criteria and hold every frag to the highest standard.
Your taste will develop over time so waiting is always a good idea. Your top five scents will change from smelling your first 20 frags to after you’ve smelled 200.
Another great fragrance discussion. I would like to share my experience in this ascent nice perfume journey BUT I do NOT disagree with your advice about blind buys. I'm 57 years of age and still have vivid memories of my passion from fragrance dating back to my freshman year in high school vivid! At some point, I switched to oils/attars that were incense forward...solely oils for about 25 years. My niche perfume journey began last year. It began with Le Labo (for whom I will be eternally grateful), then Creed and then the floodgates just opened to endless options. (Presently back to exploring attars thanks, in large part, to you) During this year, and without the benefit of a fragrance mentor, I instinctively adopted your advice on research. I started using RUclips for the first time ever and discovered RUclips fragrance reviewers with whom I connected. I began researching perfumery. I re-affirmed my fragrance DNA preferences. I began identifying Parfum Houses that matched my fragrance preferences. Based upon all of the above, which is grounded in research and introspection, most of my niche purchases have been blind buys...and all have been successful. Again, these blind buys are a bit of a 'cheat' because of the extensive research and reliance on trusted reviewers and Parfume Houses: i.e., the probability of a great blind buy is enhanced exponentially if it is based upon a review by someone like your self and from a favorite House like Amouage and Xerjoff. Even as I expanded my fragrance journey to include 'freshies' and attars, my blind buys never cease to delight me. Again, I wouldn't recommend this to everyone BUT did wish to share a personal perspective on this specific topic with you.
Great video!!! Loved every tip!
Especially blind buying. I don't understand people who enjoy blind buys! Every nose is different and I pride myself in having my unique, so I can never go by someone's opinion just like that and purchase a fragrance without testing it.
On top of that, I enjoy the whole testing and sampling experience, I get butterflies from it!!! I could never live without it that experience!
Easy buddy. You want to know where I get my best compliments from? Old Avon bottles of men's cologne I find at thrift stores and especially garage sales.
Fantastic video very well said
Thank you for this vid. Jeremy Fragrance had me blind buying all types of nonsense. Plus the same frags were on others top list. Like Bleu de Chanel and Gio Parfumo whatever. I pretty much blind bought them at a discounted price. But I still hate them basically. I realized like you said trust your nose. I take reviews with a grain of salt but I will only buy what my nose likes. I fell into many of the pitfalls you mentioned. Luckily I've be getting them for about 85% off retail, which still adds up ridiculously.
I just found your channel and I really enjoy the few I've watched. I've gone on a similar route as you explained, designer to niche to indie. Right now I am mostly at the niche part haven't explored any indie yet. I still very much enjoy the designers I have and exploring the niche is a slower process but I am enjoying the journey. The budget thing I also agree on I have acquired a few to many recently and I will be taking a break for a few months after my one bottle comes in. I need to take a step back and enjoy what I have.
Excellent video. I'm a frag head who's learning. And this video helped cement some aspects of the learning curve. I really like your videos. Thank you.
Found this video a lil bit too late.. but, better late than never, right? Thx a lot brother.. well said... i will share this video to Indonesian fragrance Community. 🙏
The best video on a topic nobody wants to speak about like when AIDS was a tabu topic thanks a lot!!!
Great message from someone who knows a lot about fragrances and the experiences of a true collector.
Very interesting that you literally advice people that have already fragrance addiction. It is very simple if 2 bottles of creed is equivalent to a summer vacation by yourself in the Bahamas for example. Then you know something is wrong with you. It is not the fact the you have plenty of money is the fact that you are investing it in something that doesn’t give you any value and/or profit. Great video. Hope you found another hobby more value in real life. Blessings
I wish this is one of the first five videos that frag heads see when they are starting out. If there was sticky video on the fragrance search list, this should be it. As far me the lord knows that I don't make enough to be "spraying money in the air" so this and the advice I got from Shri.Satyajeet Dharmadhikari would hold me in good steed. Thank you Sir. Blessings upon you for sharing of your experience and knowledge. Thank you.
I've been checking out Arabian Legend Men since last year but it's so expensive for a blind buy I just hoped it might pop up somewhere for a more blind buy safe number...lol...Really appreciated your take on these subjects Nik...
Very well thought out points bro.great video as always.
Nikhil Sharan,someone had to bring this out in open,am glad you have done it. Let this be a guide to youngsters starting their fragrance journey
Everything can be an addiction if we don't control it and do it in moderation. It's all about feeding the dopamine hit that makes us feel good. In this case it's about getting compliments. I enjoy watching fragrance reviews to learn more about the notes. Ultimately it will be my decision as to buy the product and not be influenced by anyone else. I don't think you need to wear fragrance everyday and need to stress about wearing the right fragrance for the occasion. There's no written rules about when or where to use your fragrance. Just enjoy the smell and do it in your own way as it's all subjective.
Lol this hobby kicked my ass. In 12 months I spent $6000 on my 55 plus bottles now. Niche and designer included. I love the hobby though and would do it all over again. I'm still excited to purchase more and going strong.
Who made this kind of video, that's show how you care about others and also fragrance too, Gentleman you are a real "Guru" ,real real "Perfume Guru" ,thank you, God bless you so much.
Awesome video, Nikhil. Deeply respect your honesty and knowledge about fragrances. Keep it on! :)
Good one Nikhil, I am in to collecting fragrances for past 3 years , i have about 18 bottles, except for three fragrances which i completed fully and bought new ones, the rest of the collection is warming my shelf and i was not able to use even 50% of the juice. Earlier i used to buy the fragrances from the designer counters in the shopping malls, i had a bit of control over me, oflate i started to buy perfumes online, God it is so addictive,trying really hard to control myself from spending.
Now i have started to postpone my decision of buying new ones by day or two, when ever i get tempted to explore new, and it really helps to give a second thought on spending unnecessarily.
One of your best vids so far! very informative and eye opener. Thank you sir.
Very very informative and honest video, Nikhil. Heads off to ur honesty and courage man. Very very well done.
Absolutely great and helpful tips! Really appreciate the honesty and genuine desire to help
Rarer than uranium??? Haha Nikhil, your video was very useful and timely, and also entertaining. I changed now to niche perfumes, but my initial craze boiled down to my old fragrance habits, just rotate 4-5 full bottles and have the rest of my full bottles sitting on the shelves. I have a fragrance library of niche scents, and pure oud oils, but mostly in the form of samples. Why spend $$$$$ to have them all in full bottles or tolas, if $$$ can buy me their samples. Many are so different from my every day life I wouldn’t wear them regularly anyhow. I don’t need gallons of those elixirs, why fill swimming pools here. My samples like full bottles just sit around un-sniffed most of the time, since I have to focus on life outside perfumes. These perfumes are just like a drop of fragrant paradise.
Hey man ...you are just awesome...I have watched many fragrance reviewer's videos...and I finally recognised that you are the best.....
I have used single note essential oils since the 90's and woke up one day wishing to find marigold perfume whilst the initial isolation of the pandemic was underway...and discovered the house of Swiss Arabian. Thank you for the timely advise! So easy to become obsessed with oud perfumes! I love the sample packs, they're rolling out one on a new collection called Sawalef that I'm excited to try. Best wishes 🙂
Helped me very much with this. Thanx for your advices and for all that you give us. Your channel is very important for us. You are our perfume messiah!!! 🤗🙏
Thank you for your sincerity and excellent advice
Makes huge sense Nikhil !! Appreciate it.
I am so glad I found this channel Thank you 🙏
This video is incredibly didactic. I personally needed to hear everything you had to say in this video. Shukria Nikhil
Hahaha.. Bro, the best punch line of this video "If Jeremy puts his nose to it, it will become his favorite.
Thank you my friend, very helpful indeed - because who haven't been in some of these situations 👍🏽😎
Yet very informative upload from you. Vintage collectors Hahaha there were some flash of names on my head... Lol and am sure u know few of them am talking about. There was always this thing going on with me what's the fuss with these vintage and u just said all there. A very useful tip for the beginner uv shared I wish such was the tip provided to us when we had begin our journey. Also you covered very beautifully of not falling into trap of misleading sellers very well covered, great video as usual... Cheers!!
Good points buddy.
this topic has an importance! this is important to know. good content.
This video was awesome bro. I think I'm going to stop chasing Vintages now, unless they come my way of course :D
wow. I am suprised you got so little views here, bc you are speaking language of facts. I wish more people to watch it, bc when you are young and trying to search your 1st signature smell, you can easily overwhalmed by amount of fragrances in the world.
Total Eye opener ... Wisdom shared by Nikhil Bhai
I really dig this video!! I love fragrance colognes and oils!! Thus video is the ultimate breakdown here!! Great job my brother 👊👊very informative for us perfumers
Great video and as a new collector, some very good tips that can avoid draining your wallet. I've made some blind buy mistakes and hope to use your advice on any future purchases.
Hey super tips man, thanks for that! When you say buying partial bottles... where do you look into that, for example?
I love the tip about calling your best friend for a long conversation to get over the buy-now-impulse, HAHAHAHA!!
Thanks,
Mark
Ah OK thanks man... I have searched there before but not found anything promising: any good groups you can recommend?
Mark
Very very good advice and informative too... Never thought in the lines of over spending on clones... Eye opener!!!
Haven't seen so humble Person like u on reviewing perfumes and attar and how to buy and everything helpful thanks Nikhil Bhai
Cedrat Boise is not a clone, I love the natural smelling birch and pineapple in Aventus it was unique back in the day, yet I choose Cedrat Boise over Aventus I just love it, CB is just stunning and absolute beast in performance.
Guru g kamal ki video hai. kafi kuch sekhny ko mila. Shukria
Very clear, reluctant, neutral and unbiased opinions and definitely enlightening our knowledge to go through a proper path of fragrance hobby
That’s why I like Nikhil bhai
Best review ❤
Absolutely fabulous advice, tips and experience. As one who has just recently found myself on this journey I'm already encountering so much of what you've shared here. And encouraged by your suggestions. Yes I've been worried, am I getting a bit too compulsive with this. You've begun to create a map of possibilities for the journey. Options. I'm so thankful. M
Really love you bhai....
Just want to say Thanks...
Will c this vedio again and again
As an inspiration
Love your videos.l own several middle eastern perfumes and love them. But they are usually for cold weather.
Really good tips Nikhil.
He is talking about fragrance jeremy😂
Two thumbs up for the awesome content. It felt like listening to a counselling session in a rehab LOL. I like my tres nuit as much as I like my very little left GIT and I don't think I would be spending on GIT again. So pursuing clones isn't really a bad thing always, as long as you don't overdo it.
Excellent tips, tricks and common sense information. Great stuff!!!
Ye Video Mai Ne Aaj hi Dekhi Great Video Thank you Nikhil Bhai
👍👌
Decency at it's best 🙂🤗
I never see such video with this advices completely great for beginners you gave us new view to do things correctly thanks brother
I understand what you said about the clone trap but....how do you feel about buying oils that are based on designer or niche fragrances opposed to buying clone alcohol based colognes ?
most helpful video...it will save hard earnings of many people...thank u so much
Very good.
One think I noticed when started this journey was, I always bought 100ml, if you think about it is a better investment right? But, when you start to collect and see that those 100ml are 95% after a year you realize it was worth it to spend a bit more but get 2 diferent fragrances of 50ml or even 30ml then that one of 100ml
You are right it is better to get a sample of the real thing..I totally see reviewers being pushy about massa appealing fragrances that is why I admire your chanel you are not corporate kissing.
Awesome video with some really valuable tips. Thanks Nikhil for sharing your knowledge about perfumery. Looking forward to seeing more of your amazing videos.
Great video. Thanks for the tips and I agree with you, compliments mix with your personality. The perfume just adds a little extra but it's not going to all of a sudden win you what is not already present.
I've blind bought a few things. Mostly regrets. lol. Now I sample for sure first.
Hello, Integrity!! & Honesty!!
That term IS lame. Smh 😶
Perfect advise. Very helpful. Thanks!!
One word "Respect"