Poll: When you wear a perfume, is it just for yourself or do you want others to know?

[Reventon]

It depends. Once I put just 2 sprays of Rogue Mousse Illuminee one hour before arriving at work. 5 seconds after I entered my office my 2 colleagues together asked me: "how much perfume did you put today? it smells great, but maaaannnn...."

So I guess there were some grounds for it...:lolk:

Surprising. I’ve gone for a 4 spray strategy with Mousse Illuminee and no one has given me grief over it. To be fair, my skin tends to eat up fragrances, but still.

There are elements of both, for sure. I think perfume sits in a similar category to fashion, in that most people will aim for a balance between the two. We’re collectors and enthusiasts for our own purposes for sure.

But to my mind a lot of people who tell themselves the choices they make (for either clothing or perfumes) bear zero consideration for their social setting either aren’t fully conscious of the autonomic process behind their decisions or aren’t being totally honest with themselves.

 

[Melbourne21]

Strictly for myself

 

[Ifti]

As honest to oneself as I can be, Prolly 75% me / 25% those around me.
I'd like to say just for me - yet the reality of "me, myself and I" - I'd be kidding my self and it'd be rather disingenuous.

 

[Beck]

For myself, despite compliments are always welcome and if my fragrance is disturbing someone in an environment I will think twice before wearing it again in the same environment. It’s rare. I work with lots of people but I have my own and separated office. I created my own simple etiquette rules to be reasonable. I loathe to be the nonsense of any place.

 

[teardrop]

l wear perfume primarily for myself, & if others enjoy it that's a bonus. l wear it even when l'm home alone.

l do however try to avoid wearing anything too heavy or animalic to work. l think it's good manners to avoid offending others, especially as l work in a hospital. The last thing l need is a fragrance ban at work because someone complained.

 

[HouseOfPhlegethon]

For myself. If my husband likes it, that's a plus...

 

[hdbox]

I can not be so hypocritical, and I will tell the truth - for others.
I am convinced that everyone does it for others. Everyone seeks attention, but not everyone has the strength to admit, especially in front of themselves about this fact. If it was just for itself, there would be no forums like this.

 

[Andrei Bolkonsky]

I can not be so hypocritical, and I will tell the truth - for others.
I am convinced that everyone does it for others. Everyone seeks attention, but not everyone has the strength to admit, especially in front of themselves about this fact. If it was just for itself, there would be no forums like this.

You are a true Maverick. The first one. I salute you!

:tekst-toppie:

 

[blackaroma]

I can not be so hypocritical, and I will tell the truth - for others.
I am convinced that everyone does it for others. Everyone seeks attention, but not everyone has the strength to admit, especially in front of themselves about this fact. If it was just for itself, there would be no forums like this.

To many of us it's a mania we enjoy personally, like music or movies, we actually have our different tastes which we don't mind if it differs, we don't wear one anothers favorite perfume if we don't love it ourselves.

If you do it for different reason it's respectable but try to have an open mind, different ppl have different values, enjoying a scent yourself has nothing to do with hypocrisy or denial, it's simply human nature, we love and enjoy beauty. I mean this is a perfume forum, of course many ppl are here because they love perfumes and find these nerdy conversations actually interesting!

 

[Trilby Lark]

For myself, but I do enjoy a nice compliment now and then.

 

[Andrei Bolkonsky]

To many of us it's a mania we enjoy personally, like music or movies, we actually have our different tastes which we don't mind if it differs, we don't wear one anothers favorite perfume if we don't love it ourselves.

If you do it for different reason it's respectable but try to have an open mind, different ppl have different values, enjoying a scent yourself has nothing to do with hypocrisy or denial, it's simply human nature, we love and enjoy beauty. I mean this is a perfume forum, of course many ppl are here because they love perfumes and find these nerdy conversations actually interesting!

I think you have raised a valid point.

 

[PrinceRF]

To many of us it's a mania we enjoy personally, like music or movies, we actually have our different tastes which we don't mind if it differs, we don't wear one anothers favorite perfume if we don't love it ourselves.

If you do it for different reason it's respectable but try to have an open mind, different ppl have different values, enjoying a scent yourself has nothing to do with hypocrisy or denial, it's simply human nature, we love and enjoy beauty. I mean this is a perfume forum, of course many ppl are here because they love perfumes and find these nerdy conversations actually interesting!

True.

 

[tspencer]

Well,

Sorry, I'm sellfish about my fragrance. I wear them for myself. I don't care what others' opinions are. If I only bought fragrances I thought the majority of people would like, then I'd have a small fraction of my current wardrobe. Of course though, I share what I bought with fellow enthusiasts on here because, frankly, only people with this interest/hobby would understand. People who see my fragrance shelf overreact and likely probably think to themselves my fragrance collection is a bit 'weird'/over the top.

I, again, seem to have a vague number that, once I reached it, seemed to be the practical limit just as I found it difficult to rotate them and fully enjoy them and also people started to think it was 'excessive'. I am going to dub it "The 34 Rule". That's the number where, once you pass it you have to start creating a "to wear" list so you can try to get enough wearings of everything so that the whole wardrobe gets used in a practical way. It's also the number where once I passed it, I had to buy a new shelf to hold more. So, seemingly everything in about my fragrance wardrobe and hobby started to become more complicated and more difficult overall when I passed 34 fragrances.

So, if any newb asks me what number of fragrances they should plan for to have a really nice variety, but be able to manage it without much trouble. I will tell them this number and all about the rule and the consequences of exceeding that rule both in terms of complexity, organization and social awkwardness.

 

[PrinceRF]

I, again, seem to have a vague number that, once I reached it, seemed to be the practical limit just as I found it difficult to rotate them and fully enjoy them and also people started to think it was 'excessive'. I am going to dub it "The 34 Rule". That's the number where, once you pass it you have to start creating a "to wear" list so you can try to get enough wearings of everything so that the whole wardrobe gets used in a practical way. It's also the number where once I passed it, I had to buy a new shelf to hold more. So, seemingly everything in about my fragrance wardrobe and hobby started to become more complicated and more difficult overall when I passed 34 fragrances.

So, if any newb asks me what number of fragrances they should plan for to have a really nice variety, but be able to manage it without much trouble. I will tell them this number and all about the rule and the consequences of exceeding that rule both in terms of complexity, organization and social awkwardness.

There is also something nice in having fewer fragrances that you really love and that you can really form relationships with, as opposed to having so many bottles that you might only wear each one just once or twice a year.

 

[Andrei Bolkonsky]

There is also something nice in having fewer fragrances that you really love and that you can really form relationships with, as opposed to having so many bottles that you might only wear each one just once or twice a year.

Yeah. Sometimes I get a little bit "blue" because of the sheer magnitude of my collection. I guess I could reduce it to one third of what I have now, and live very happily with the fragrances that are truly precious and essential to me. My relatively large collection (at least for my budget constraints -for instance, Hednic doesn't have to live by the same rules as I do) was a consequence of my compulsions and obsessive personality, I guess.

 

[Beck]

l wear it even when l'm home alone.

Same here. Sometimes I take a shower right before going to sleep. I apply perfume even then.

 

[oudaddict]

70% for myself, 30% for others. If you are enjoying a fragrance, why wouldn't you want others to share some of that experience. But ultimately, the primary purpose of fragrance is not to smell offensive in public, this is truer from a historical perspective. It's a good point you make about oversprayers.

 

[PrinceRF]

Same here. Sometimes I take a shower right before going to sleep. I apply perfume even then.

Likewise.

 

[Zgb]

I wear it for myself, compliments are just a nice bonus.

 

[H_West]

As honest to oneself as I can be, Prolly 75% me / 25% those around me.
I'd like to say just for me - yet the reality of "me, myself and I" - I'd be kidding my self and it'd be rather disingenuous.

This is how I would like to answer it, since it is not just answer 1, 2 or 3 solely.

It must start with me, if I don't like a fragrance it is a no go. No matter how popular it is. Do I want others to think I smell good? Of course! So if I and my surroundings like it it is perfect. If I love a fragrance and my close one think it stinks, then I will only wear it when I am alone. If they think it is only OK, well, then they might have to accept it.

I, again, seem to have a vague number that, once I reached it, seemed to be the practical limit just as I found it difficult to rotate them and fully enjoy them and also people started to think it was 'excessive'. I am going to dub it "The 34 Rule". That's the number where, once you pass it you have to start creating a "to wear" list so you can try to get enough wearings of everything so that the whole wardrobe gets used in a practical way. It's also the number where once I passed it, I had to buy a new shelf to hold more. So, seemingly everything in about my fragrance wardrobe and hobby started to become more complicated and more difficult overall when I passed 34 fragrances.

Interesting, my wardrobe states 34 bottles. I'm thinking I should reduce but I'm constantly on the lookout for new ones. But, I got a lots of samples and decants that I regularly wear so it is a bit too many now. I could plan my wearing for days in front and that can also take away the fun of just throwing on what you would like in the moment. Will have your rule in mind

 

[Rüssel]

For myself. I'm willing/forced to compromise to a certain extend in exchange for money, sex and to not offend the general public too much.

 

[Bavard]

For myself. I'm willing/forced to compromise to a certain extend in exchange for money, sex and to not offend the general public too much.

I suppose wearing clothing when it’s hot out is for other people.

 

[blackaroma]

I suppose wearing clothing when it’s hot out is for other people.

It's also about self image and body shame. In countries or states where ppl have better posture on average than today's US, people are more likely to go shirtless.

 

[Rüssel]

I suppose wearing clothing when it’s hot out is for other people.

I think it's generally legal to be nude outdoors as long as nobody complains but you know what people are like.

 

[tspencer]

Why even care or rate sillage if it's just for yourself? True question

I will give an answer. Because I've noticed that in many fragrances the sillage smells superior to the direct scent off of skin up close. The most dramatic example is Terre d'Hermes EDT. I smell it off my arm and it's flat, chemical, boring. But when I catch a backwave of air outside or in a room indoors, it smells absolutely gorgeous. Creed's Bois du Portugal is also like this. Off my skin I get the sharp tanins and bergamot, but in the air I get this powdery, spicy, masculine masterpiece of a smell. I know if someone else is caught in a breeze that blows over me the recipient of that wash of air will get one of the best smells of their life, but it's really 'me' that I want to get a crosswind sillage backwash experience. So, yes, on some very important fragrances, sillage seems to be essential to the experience.

 

[PrinceRF]

I will give an answer. Because I've noticed that in many fragrances the sillage smells superior to the direct scent off of skin up close.

Never thought about it, but you're right.

 

[Andrei Bolkonsky]

Never thought about it, but you're right.

Yes, I agree too. He raised a very valid point.

 

[sjg3839]

I like compliments, so I guess both.

Same here

 

[Beck]

I suppose wearing clothing when it’s hot out is for other people.

:grin:

 

[GRISMONTAIGNE]

If we are being honest, i hate that people comment on my fragrance.

 

[L'Homme Blanc Individuel]

The poll needs another option: It Depends On The Situation.

Do I want others to notice?

If I'm on a date, yes, I'd like her to notice.

If I'm at work, not really. Work is for working.

If I'm with friends or something casual, it doesn't matter. But even then, it depends on the situation.

 

[WarmJewel]

For myself, I couldn't care less what others think.

Having said that I tend to wear and prefer pretty subtle close to the skin fragrances in Aftershave concentration so it's highly unlikely many people would smell me anyway which suits me just fine.

 

[Danny Mitchell]

Good to see the third option getting close to as many votes as the first option. If people were being honest, the poll results would be skewed more toward option three. Ah well....

 

[ultravisitor]

Why even care or rate sillage if it's just for yourself? True question

I don't care about or rate sillage. True statement.

 

[TR10]

It is always for myself. If others notice my fragrance, I consider them lucky.

 

[sakecat]

I have historically worked in scent-sensitive environments, so if I am out and about and someone notices my fragrance - I get uncomfortable.
I spent many years wearing perfume oils and solids for that reason.
You had to get inappropriately close to smell me at work. I didn't like anyone I worked with that much for anyone to get that close.
Also wasn't a clubber, so it didn't make sense to engage in chemical warfare.

These days, I don't leave the house that frequently - so now perfume truly is for me with the only consideration being not suffocating my long-suffering partner.

 

[Ifti]

Now a few years later than my original post, I'd probably say the same. That I'd like to think it's just for me, but I can't kid myself. Maybe more 50:50 now, taking into account my Tradition, which mentions that dressing well and fragrancing is almost a "service" to others.

And also that fragrance could be perceived as an extension of sorts of my "self" or personality or something, that I want to tell you a little something about me without words...

 

[Pippin06]

I wear perfume first for myself (and I'm a very light sprayer). Then, I hope my wife likes it as she's very picky about perfumes, and likes relatively few of the ones I've tried. I want my wife to enjoy wafts when near me, and don't care a bit if anyone else notices my fragrances.

 

[PStoller]

I wear perfume first for myself (and I'm a very light sprayer). Then, I hope my wife likes it as she's very picky about perfumes, and likes relatively few of the ones I've tried. I want my wife to enjoy wafts when near me, and don't care a bit if anyone else notices my fragrances.

This, for me. I certainly don’t mind compliments from anyone else, but I never have that in mind when I choose a fragrance, and it never bothers me if it doesn’t happen.

 

[AndyL]

To me, wearing a fragrance is just part of getting dressed. Part of the daily ensemble. I don’t wear my chosen watch for anyone but myself - course if someone else happens to like it that’s fine, same I goes for maybe my shirt, belt, shoes, glasses…. even my perfume for the day!