tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27044110.post4098128043643961641..comments2024-03-28T05:28:29.786-04:00Comments on The Non-Blonde: How To Sample And Test PerfumeGaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11561470171631737626noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27044110.post-27014413783525842552013-08-27T18:22:53.731-04:002013-08-27T18:22:53.731-04:00When I first started sampling fragrances I went wi...When I first started sampling fragrances I went with the vanilla-based group because that's what I loved at the time. I then expanded and tried sampling from the "Best Of" fragrance lists, then vintage fragrances, favorites of bloggers, oh my gosh, it's a rabbit hole :)))) I've had really great luck with perfume samples from all of the great decant businesses you mentioned here, plus Indiescents (I don't think that's been mentioned yet) and have gotten a couple oddball ones off ebay as well.Mary P.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27044110.post-64017692918563214342013-08-27T11:53:36.611-04:002013-08-27T11:53:36.611-04:00Great post. I am currently in the very throngs(?) ...Great post. I am currently in the very throngs(?) of perfume testing for the first time in my long life. I found Perfume Shrine, and through her, The Non-Blonde (BOTH wonderful sites). I have found it extremely difficult to find suitable scents, even though I like many. These tips will surely help me so I can order the illusive FB that everyone talks about...a bottle or twelve! THANKS...*JW*https://www.blogger.com/profile/16957967785557340716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27044110.post-67161184050241392212013-08-27T11:19:16.121-04:002013-08-27T11:19:16.121-04:00Hi Gaia! After years of reading about sampling, I...Hi Gaia! After years of reading about sampling, I bought a slew of samples from LuckyScents. Well...so far a huge waste of time and money. All duds. They smell great in the little (and I mean LITTLE) vial, but most didn't last more than a millisecond on my skin and broke down to the most basic one note. Blah. I've been very resistant to buy any "new" fragrances and have relied on my hoard of vintage and older fragrances....now I remember why! Guess I'll douse a bunch of cotton balls and stash them in my undies/socks drawers with those sample...at least my drawers will smell nice! Think I'll go spray on some vintage Azuree....awww, now that's a fragrance! Next purchase (per your suggestion) is Eau Savage Extreme Concentrate vintage. I adore Eau Savage and look forward to trying the Extreme Concentrate! Love your blog!!!StrayCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18335255658999961728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27044110.post-60992855917823971392013-08-27T11:01:40.485-04:002013-08-27T11:01:40.485-04:00Aside from the places you've mentioned, I'...Aside from the places you've mentioned, I've also bought decants or splits on ScentSplits.com and BaseNotes.net<br />I also love getting the perfumers sample sets and I have many: Ineke, Ormonde Jayne, Slumberhouse, Olfactive Studio to name a few. And on my list to buy is a Maria Candida Gentile sample set. <br />Aedes de Venustas and Kriegler at the Plaza also each sell samples online.Sujaanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04919481790696579394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27044110.post-75215994928788798862013-08-27T02:43:19.560-04:002013-08-27T02:43:19.560-04:00At my earliest age I remember My Moms perfume of C...At my earliest age I remember My Moms perfume of Chanel #5, Lanvin, Joy, just sitting on her dressing table. They were saved for special times, but every day she would wear Revlon's Intimate, Or Avon's Topaz. So when I was in High School in the early to mid 60's I wore the Intimate, it just suited me. Then the Cologne for men was Canoe, all of us girls would put our brothers Canoe on a cotton ball, wrap it in tinfoil, and after gym rub it on! Oh the smell lol. Then at 19 a very dear Lady friend gave me a bottle of Germain Montiel's Royal Secret, I have never stopped using this fragrance. It is my signature, I get compliments every time I leave the house, It is a running joke with my Granddaughter, because no matter where we are someone will comment on my perfume. I now have to get it online as Germain Montiel is no more. Some group called five star still makes it, but it is just not the same.I just can't give it up. I am a perfume mixer, I will put on Shalimar on my neck, then On the side of my face I will spray the Royal Secret, If I don't use Shalimar I will use the old fragrance of Emeraude by Coty, it has that nice heavy vanilla note that goes so well with the spicier vanilla of Royal Secret, I will sometimes finish with the lighter Vanilla Fields right on my chin/lips. That lilting lightness of Fields gives way to the Royal Secret as it blends with the deep note of the Shalimar or Emeraude. So when people want to know what I'm wearing, I don't even try, I just say Shalimar. But really it's Royal Secret I can't live without.Rena Designshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04821777773069707645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27044110.post-42745176139381277292013-08-26T23:46:18.084-04:002013-08-26T23:46:18.084-04:00Thanks for the tips, Gaia! I have a question for y...Thanks for the tips, Gaia! I have a question for you/maybe your readers: is there anywhere in the U.S that sells decants of Jo Loves perfumes? I really want to try them but cannot justify shelling in big bucks on things I haven't tried. Any pointers will be appreciated.Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18179420902933819052noreply@blogger.com