"My precious..."

[Akahina]

Over the last 20 years, I have amassed a collection of over 100+ perfumes. WTF? I'm old and mostly retired and single. Even if I live to 105, there is no way I can use them all. My mind tells me to rid myself of most of them, but I find it hard to decide to sell any of "my precious" bottles, even though the cash would be welcome. Even the scents I don't like much, for some reason I rationalize keeping them as "references."

HELP! I'm in some sort of denial. I've never sold a perfume and don't know how to sell, even if I break the spell of the ring. Maybe sell decants of some of my highly valued scents? And forget about reference scents and just sell off what I don't use. I'm feeling a bit like Gollum.



I can't be the only one...

 

[PrinceRF]

Keep all of your loves but rid yourself of anything it's just a "like" or below. If you must have reference scents, it makes the most sense to make small decants for yourself and then sell off the rest of the bottle (you'll get much more for a bottle and selling decants is a lot more work).

If you're old and have more than you could ever go through, why not wear your absolute favorites? Life is too short to hang onto anything less. I would try the Basenotes Marketplace to start.

 

[davidcalgary29]

C'mon, now. Gollum is an excellent role model here. He only lusted after one ring -- not a hundred of them! If he took a look at some of the beautiful wardrobes on here, he'd be scandalized by the sheer gluttony of it all! He'd Marie Kondo us all, and tell us toss everything out! And by the way, if you actually have a bottle of "Gollum" by Rohan Dove, please sell it ASAP to Jude Law. It sounds like he needs some inspiration.

I love the idea of taking decants and selling the rest.

 

[freewheelingvagabond]

Even the scents I don't like much, for some reason I rationalize keeping them as "references."

This isn't very practical, unless one is a serious collector (the more the merrier) and/or is okay with foregoing the funds that can be had from a sale.

I was there, but I have moved on. If it doesn't get worn, it gets sold/swapped. In my case it's driven by a psychological unease of having too much stuff, especially since I've moved many times between cities and countries, and shall move in the future as well.

I do sympathize with you/us as there is no digital or physical (except Osmotheque) library of scents and perfumes where one could just visit and try something for that fix.

 

[hednic]

Keep all of your loves but rid yourself of anything it's just a "like" or below.

Sound advice.

 

[Akahina]

Keep all of your loves but rid yourself of anything it's just a "like" or below. If you must have reference scents, it makes the most sense to make small decants for yourself and then sell off the rest of the bottle (you'll get much more for a bottle and selling decants is a lot more work).

If you're old and have more than you could ever go through, why not wear your absolute favorites? Life is too short to hang onto anything less. I would try the Basenotes Marketplace to start.

I ignored my collection for various reasons starting in about 2018. The last few months I have been unpacking and wearing multiple scents a day. Interestingly, my tastes have not changed! Maybe being consistent is a plus.

I like the idea of keeping decants for myself and selling the bottle. Thank you.

 

[N.CAL Fragrance Reviewer]

I ignored my collection for various reasons starting in about 2018. The last few months I have been unpacking and wearing multiple scents a day. Interestingly, my tastes have not changed! Maybe being consistent is a plus.

I like the idea of keeping decants for myself and selling the bottle. Thank you.

I think you must do what makes you happy. I found myself doing that in the last couple of years regardless of prestige and rarity, no regrets.

 

[Akahina]

I think you must do what makes you happy. I found myself doing that in the last couple of years regardless of prestige and rarity, no regrets.

I imagine your collection was/is rather extensive. Thanks for the input!

 

[ChuckW]

I have gotten to be pretty ruthless in selling off stuff I don't wear on eBay. Lately, I have had ZERO luck selling here on basenotes, so eBay has served me well.

It's helped me get my wardrobe down to 41 bottles (some of which are classics from my teens and twenties that are kept just for "scentimental" reasons). It's also brought me cash to buy other things that I love like sunglasses and watches.

My wardrobe of scents is in a very good place at the moment. I'm wearing the "good stuff" more often.

 

[Ken_Russell]

Many great points expressed so far.

Especially relating with and seconding the idea of keeping/focusing on the "select few" (or more, the more the merrier etc.) scents you would never part with and keep no matter what.

Meanwhile gradually considering all the possible options for the remaining ones that imply less of a personal meaning, connection and thus less potential regrets if not permanently and readily available in the current wardrobe.

 

[slpfrsly]

Over the last 20 years, I have amassed a collection of over 100+ perfumes. WTF? I'm old and mostly retired and single. Even if I live to 105, there is no way I can use them all. My mind tells me to rid myself of most of them, but I find it hard to decide to sell any of "my precious" bottles, even though the cash would be welcome. Even the scents I don't like much, for some reason I rationalize keeping them as "references."

HELP! I'm in some sort of denial. I've never sold a perfume and don't know how to sell, even if I break the spell of the ring. Maybe sell decants of some of my highly valued scents? And forget about reference scents and just sell off what I don't use. I'm feeling a bit like Gollum.

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I can't be the only one...

It's an interesting quandary. I suppose I'm wondering if your post is looking for moral support from likeminded individuals who are in the same boat (which I'm sure you will find here on basenotes), or if you're looking for advice about what to do with your collection and how to start selling some of what you have?

I think the conflict you're recognising is something I've tried to express at times about how the social and discursive side of this (the communal aspect of fragrance collecting) is quite different and in some ways functionally distinct from the habit of wearing fragrances. In other words, you might only own a fragrance because you want to be able to sniff if every once in a while, particularly when a thread or a discussion about said fragrance crops up on the forum, or if it gets discontinued which generates some online buzz. Without this virtual world, however, you might find it much easier to get rid of the fragrance because you don't wear it, don't particularly like it, and would (as you say) much rather put the cash you could make from selling it towards something else.

If you're looking for advice - please say if you're not - then I think one of the things to come to terms with is how much discussing fragrances online motivates you to keep the fragrances you already have and (potentially?) keep adding more? This isn't an easy thing to answer, but I'd leave that there as something to think about.

As for more practical advice about selling, if you're not interested in getting the very best deal you can for your fragrances, then selling to trusted members on basenotes would probably be the best way to do it - allowing for postal issues and so on. Ebay would be another way to sell and one of the better ways all told, although there's a learning curve as a seller that usually involves getting ripped off a few times until you start to understand how to navigate the platform to avoid the cheats and scammers.

In terms of what to sell, it might be better to think about what to keep? What do you want these fragrances for? Well obviously some of them you will wear regularly, or for special occasions; and some you might want to keep for other reasons, like as reference points. Is there anything else? Sentimental reasons? Everything that doesn't make it can then be put in to a "sell" pile. Then work your way through it by selling them off as/when you feel like it.

On decants, I would actually recommend you keep a 1-5ml decant of each fragrance you sell (apart from those you really don't care about). It'll be like weaning yourself off your current collection - much easier to manage than trying to make the leap all in one go, 'cold turkey' so to speak. 5ml can last a long time and gives you the chance to keep them for as long as you want, and throw them away without too much hassle if you get bored of a fragrance/when it runs low or potentially spoils.

Other than that, good luck.

 

[Scent Detective]

C'mon, now. Gollum is an excellent role model here. He only lusted after one ring -- not a hundred of them! If he took a look at some of the beautiful wardrobes on here, he'd be scandalized by the sheer gluttony of it all! He'd Marie Kondo us all, and tell us toss everything out! And by the way, if you actually have a bottle of "Gollum" by Rohan Dove, please sell it ASAP to Jude Law. It sounds like he needs some inspiration.

I love the idea of taking decants and selling the rest.

"Rohan" Dove, eh? Was that an intentional Lord of the Rings reference, or just a typo?

And, this question just seems appropriate at the moment...where was Jude Law when the Westfold fell?

 

[RedRaider430]

I like the idea of keeping decants for myself and selling the bottle. Thank you.

Except decants frequently evaporate, and bottles don't.

 

[RedRaider430]

Lately, I have had ZERO luck selling here on basenotes,

Yeah, it's hard to sell something that people don't see.

 

[Zenwannabee]

I really enjoy your posts. In terms of your question, 100 bottles over 20 years is a lot—and yet not. In terms of winnowing, I’d look most to your heart, Grasshopper. If having less is going to make you happier and able to focus on what you truly enjoy—do it. Regardless of if you donate, throw away, or sell for a profit. It sounds like you’re enjoying your collection again. That’s the fabulous thing. You likely already know the answer to your question. Go for it! 🙂