What are some unpopular or controversial opinions you have about fragrances/perfumery?

[Pippin06]

I'd love to visit New York City one day to check out Nordstrom and other large stores fragrance offerings. I imagine they are quite extensive compared to the market I'm in.

 

[Pippin06]

I live in a much smaller place than even Sacramento - I share the pain of the same handful of designer best sellers at every store. Very depressing what has happened to the in-person experience.

So true, LL Cool Spray. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Opiate]

I'd love to visit New York City one day to check out Nordstrom and other large stores fragrance offerings. I imagine they are quite extensive compared to the market I'm in.

No need to go to NY. If youre in Sac, You live close to SF, and not too far from LA. Those are amazing fragrance markets.
That’s where I’d be going.
The last time I was in SF I went into a hole in the wall perfume store and found a 100ml bottle of new old stock M7 for $75.

 

[hollywoodforever]

You live close to SF, and not too far from LA. Those are amazing fragrance markets.

Neiman Marcus in San Francisco has an amazing perfume selection. Full lineups from Amouage, Frederic Malle, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, By Kilian, Clive Christian, Byredo, etc. Standalone counters for Dior Privée and the Chanel Exclusifs. On the lower level, in the Men's department, they have a Creed counter.

Neiman Marcus also probably has the most convenient and nicest bathroom in Downtown SF as well.

 

[Zenwannabee]

Your first impression of a fragrance is unlikely to change much. You may go from like to love, love to like, neutral to dislike etc., but major shifts probably won't happen no matter how much you sample. I've had a few exceptions where I've gained a much greater appreciation or dislike, but they remain that- exceptions.

I completely agree. Which is why I still love Brut… 🙂

 

[Franco65]

No need to go to NY. If youre in Sac, You live close to SF, and not too far from LA. Those are amazing fragrance markets.
That’s where I’d be going.
The last time I was in SF I went into a hole in the wall perfume store and found a 100ml bottle of new old stock M7 for $75.

True!

 

[Franco65]

backing up to past glories is better than travelling into the unknown

 

[FiveoaksBouquet]

I don’t understand the pressure to “get” a perfume, no matter how popular or legendary. The nose is free to like what it likes.

 

[slpfrsly]

I'd love to visit New York City one day to check out Nordstrom and other large stores fragrance offerings. I imagine they are quite extensive compared to the market I'm in.

Is the unpopular opinion wanting to vist New York, or...? 😄

 

[Foxsbiscuits]

I don’t understand the pressure to “get” a perfume, no matter how popular or legendary. The nose is free to like what it likes.

In the past I just knew what I liked, bought a bottle, and used it. Then when I started getting into all the reviews and niche and forums and recommendations when I'd hear about "legendary" fragrances I'd force myself to try to like them, to try to "get" them because if I didn't like them I must be missing something, that it wasn't just my personal taste.

Only one fragrance, Habit Rouge, I didn't like at first but my gut knew I'd like it eventually. Took about 3 years and then I felt comfortable wearing it, it wasn't an easy one to enjoy to begin with and I still have some hesitation around it, it's not a top one for me anymore even though I think it's exceptional.

 

[Pippin06]

In the past I just knew what I liked, bought a bottle, and used it. Then when I started getting into all the reviews and niche and forums and recommendations when I'd hear about "legendary" fragrances I'd force myself to try to like them, to try to "get" them because if I didn't like them I must be missing something, that it wasn't just my personal taste.

Only one fragrance, Habit Rouge, I didn't like at first but my gut knew I'd like it eventually. Took about 3 years and then I felt comfortable wearing it, it wasn't an easy one to enjoy to begin with and I still have some hesitation around it, it's not a top one for me anymore even though I think it's exceptional.

Can relate! I couldn't stand Habit Rouge at first, nor could my wife. On first spray of my first bottle of it--it went straight into the outdoor garbage can--literally. Fast forward a year or so. Reading and listening to more reviews, and being quite aware of its legendary status, I bought another bottle--figuring I should have given my first bottle at least a fair chance.

The first several sprays of the second bottle--didn't like it--but didn't want to repeat my hasty error. I was encouraged by my favorite fragrance reviewer to give it some time. I did just that, and it's now a complete love of mine!

 

[ThVH]

Dior Homme 2020 was a much needed change in direction for the line and lets DHO/DHI/DHP feel quite outdated. I love em all, though

 

[Akahina]

Sugar, cotton candy, caramel, honey, and chocolate belong in ice cream, not in perfumes. Add coffee to the list.

 

[slpfrsly]

Dior Homme 2020 was a much needed change in direction for the line and lets DHO/DHI/DHP feel quite outdated. I love em all, though

Yeah that's a good one. Definitely not a commonly held opinion. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Foxsbiscuits]

Ok I think I've managed to muster one that fits this thread -

Owning more perfume doesn't make you better at this hobby, it just means you own lots of perfume.


Gathers my eight bottle collection and runs for cover.

 

[ihxb01]

Owning more perfume … just means you own lots of perfume.

This is bigger than just an unpopular opinion. I believe there are specific cognitive biases regarding the fragrance collecting. I’d call this one “illusion of value”, the belief that fullness or diversification of a fragrance collection adds the intrinsic value to it. A bunch of bottles is merely a bunch of bottles wherever it contains fragrances from all genres/a full brand’s exclusive collection/all creations from a certain perfumer or not.

 

[Foxsbiscuits]

This is bigger than just an unpopular opinion. I believe there are specific cognitive biases regarding the fragrance collecting. I’d call this one “illusion of value”, the belief that fullness and diversification of a fragrance collection adds the intrinsic value to it. A bunch of bottles is merely a bunch of bottles wherever it contains fragrances from all genres/a full brand’s exclusive collection/all creations from a certain perfumer or not.

I was thinking about hobbies and for me there's a distinction between interest and collection. I have a deep interest in perfume but I could own and wear none (in theory ) and still maintain that interest. This hobby is about everything from the science, chemistry, creativity, business, social, sexual, sensual, variety, feelings, industry, taste, and don't forget - how they actually smell!

It's the same for me with films, I watch a lot but only own about 5. Some people have enormous collections and I'm not saying that is a bad thing, I'm saying that I'd still be able to discuss it with them.
This topic goes into the area of buying addiction which is often complex and difficult to overcome so I'm certainly not having a go at people if they struggle with that. There's another aspect where someone might believe they need to have a big collection to be part of the community, I'm imagining so I don't know how accurate this is.

There's an old phrase from my mountain biking days ... "All the gear and no idea"
It's possible to have gear and idea, it's just easier to have gear and no idea, especially when you start (and maybe it doesn't change)

 

[baklavaRuzh]

Ok I think I've managed to muster one that fits this thread -

Owning more perfume doesn't make you better at this hobby, it just means you own lots of perfume.


Gathers my eight bottle collection and runs for cover.

I totally agree with this, and I have much more than 8 bottles. No need to run. 😅

 

[woofwoof]

I know it may be wild but I'll put on different fragrances throughout the day

Not a lot but if it's been a few hours and I'm about to go for a dog walk or work on some chores I may spritz something fun

 

[GRISMONTAIGNE]

I hate Chanel Sycomore, it smells biter and grumpy, reminds me of beaurocracy. My least favorite Les Exclusif. If i want amazing woods, i would choose Italian Cypress, its much more friendly to my nose and to my general mood.

 

[TRBeck]

Zino Davidoff > Beau de Jour

Sartorial is Brut for guys who performatively overpay for their single malts

 

[thesacredsaguaro]

Guerlain in modern times is mediocre and overhyped. I have yet to smell something that warrants the love it gets from the community. I often enjoy modern perfumers odes to the classics much better than the brand itself. I understand Guerlain’s contributions to the perfume world but it seems innovation has just passed them by after the 80’s.
•
Oud isn’t overrated but mainstream western perfumers poor attempts at “Oud accords” are and it baffles me that so many perfume lovers fail to see or a acknowledge the difference. People will go on and on about the different types of citrus in a fragrance or how they love a specific type of oakmoss and search and search for that specific smell in a fragrance but look at Oud as just a “fad” when it’s not even Oud they’re smelling. Then they proceed to base and form an entire opinion on what Oud smells like and why it’s overrated without ever taking the time to know what it actually smells like in the various ways it can smell. They just decide it’s overrated. I find it odd that one of the oldest used aromatics in the perfume world can be overrated just because designer/niche perfume houses wanted to capitalize on the word to hike up their prices without ever using the real thing.
•
I mean people talk about tea on here all the time and the way tea relates to perfumes and it seems like people can grasp that tea doesn’t have one “specific” smell although as a generalization it can be identified as “tea”. But oolong will smell different than lapsong etc. But Oud, which most closely smells like tea (and incense) imo is often overlooked as smelling like cow shit and cypriol or worse…iso-e super.
•
Designer/niche fragrances often smell better and are more well constructed than most artisanal perfumes but people in to artisanal perfumes are more caught up in the rebellion against designer/niche perfumes to realize they have poor taste and don’t understand perfumery.

 

[TRBeck]

This is bigger than just an unpopular opinion. I believe there are specific cognitive biases regarding the fragrance collecting. I’d call this one “illusion of value”, the belief that fullness or diversification of a fragrance collection adds the intrinsic value to it. A bunch of bottles is merely a bunch of bottles wherever it contains fragrances from all genres/a full brand’s exclusive collection/all creations from a certain perfumer or not.

I agree. I have begun culling and have settled on 10 scents I will actually wear.

In the culling process, I found myself separating things into a "to sell" grouping and a "to keep for reference" grouping. Why? I don't write reviews, blog, or otherwise refer to the history or genres of fragrance in any formal way that requires me to keep a dozen variations of one theme, nor do I need specific bottles because they are the best exemplars of a given style, nor do I need to make sure I have a Givenchy, a Guerlain, a Dior, etc., on hand. So strange. It's an inclination reinforced by time here, for sure. At any rate, perhaps eventually the "reference" bottles will be sold, too. Heaven knows even keeping 10 bottles ensures over a decade of daily wears, and I have backups of two of them...oof.

 

[woofwoof]

Guerlain in modern times is mediocre and overhyped. I have yet to smell something that warrants the love it gets from the community. I often enjoy modern perfumers odes to the classics much better than the brand itself. I understand Guerlain’s contributions to the perfume world but it seems innovation has just passed them by after the 80’s.
•
Oud isn’t overrated but mainstream western perfumers poor attempts at “Oud accords” are and it baffles me that so many perfume lovers fail to see or a acknowledge the difference. People will go on and on about the different types of citrus in a fragrance or how they love a specific type of oakmoss and search and search for that specific smell in a fragrance but look at Oud as just a “fad” when it’s not even Oud they’re smelling. Then they proceed to base and form an entire opinion on what Oud smells like and why it’s overrated without ever taking the time to know what it actually smells like in the various ways it can smell. They just decide it’s overrated. I find it odd that one of the oldest used aromatics in the perfume world can be overrated just because designer/niche perfume houses wanted to capitalize on the word to hike up their prices without ever using the real thing.
•
I mean people talk about tea on here all the time and the way tea relates to perfumes and it seems like people can grasp that tea doesn’t have one “specific” smell although as a generalization it can be identified as “tea”. But oolong will smell different than lapsong etc. But Oud, which most closely smells like tea (and incense) imo is often overlooked as smelling like cow shit and cypriol or worse…iso-e super.
•
Designer/niche fragrances often smell better and are more well constructed than most artisanal perfumes but people in to artisanal perfumes are more caught up in the rebellion against designer/niche perfumes to realize they have poor taste and don’t understand perfumery.

Is there any accessible 'oud' that comes to mind for you when thinking about what 'western' audiences should be considering?

I like Versace oud noir, but that may just be my bias for the house

Tom Fords Oud Wood smells nice but gets a little rubbery for me

Jo Malone Velvet Rose & Oud is nice and pungent but I usually like Rose scents and this one isn't my favorite

And Maison Alhambra Woody Oud smells like watered down tf oud wood stored in a plastic bottle for too long. But it's not bad

*And Creed Royal Oud but I've read it doesn't really read as Oud and the price is adversarial

 

[davidcalgary29]

Secretions Magnifiques is a pleasant and unremarkable scent that is not a challenging wear.

 

[cheapimitation]

I hate Chanel Sycomore, it smells biter and grumpy, reminds me of beaurocracy. My least favorite Les Exclusif. If i want amazing woods, i would choose Italian Cypress, its much more friendly to my nose and to my general mood.

I can relate to that, as much as I love the Exclusives this one never spoke to me, beaurocratic and grumpy are great descriptors. 😂

My unpopular opinion is that I don't think fragrances were better in the old days.

 

[ChuckW]

I don’t really care for vetiver when it’s the dominant note. I’m looking at you Guerlain Vetiver and Encre Noire.

 

[slpfrsly]

I don’t really care for vetiver when it’s the dominant note. I’m looking at you Guerlain Vetiver and Encre Noire.

I believe this is a fairly common assessment of vetiver. I ran a poll on fragrantica asking whether a fragrance with prominent use of vetiver made people nauseous (as it does for me). The poll received nearly 100 votes and over a third agreed that it made them feel sick. I reckon dislike of vetiver is a common enough opinion.

 

[ChuckW]

I believe this is a fairly common assessment of vetiver. I ran a poll on fragrantica asking whether a fragrance with prominent use of vetiver made people nauseous (as it does for me). The poll received nearly 100 votes and over a third agreed that it made them feel sick. I reckon dislike of vetiver is a common enough opinion.

Fair enough! I gave it a shot! 😁

 

[slpfrsly]

Fair enough! I gave it a shot! 😁

It's a fine example, just not quite juicy or rare enough for this thread! We want the kind of frenzied and divisive opinions that could spoil a party or ruin a holiday. 😀

 

[FiveoaksBouquet]

It's a fine example, just not quite juicy or rare enough for this thread! We want the kind of frenzied and divisive opinions that could spoil a party or ruin a holiday. 😀

I think not liking vetiver is pretty radical—even shocking. It’s a beloved mainstay in so much of perfumery, especially masculine perfumery, that dismissing it could border on the perverse. 🙃

 

[starace]

Same sentiments-while many are indeed changed several times, often they still smell so good one way or the other it does not matter.

L'oreal, for instance, is killing their "masculines" in the United States market, but their reformulations were fine. Have had similar situations with reformulations many told me were supposed to be bad, yet are still doing fine.

The supposedly bad reformulation of Lauder's Aliage smells even better than last time (the modern, generic bottle). I have a batch from 3 years ago Reformulations, and one from January this year, and the latest is even more floral and wonderful at the top, and lasts for quite a long while even on the skin.

You should decide for yourself whether a reformulation works for you. Not everything new must be bad, and different is not always heinous.

Reformulation hysteria is tiresome for me.

 

[slpfrsly]

I think not liking vetiver is pretty radical—even shocking. It’s a beloved mainstay in so much of perfumery, especially masculine perfumery, that dismissing it could border on the perverse. 🙃

Not liking it is barely scratching the surface. We want outpourings of hatred, vetiver denounced as worse than unsliced bread etc etc.

 

[Akahina]

The smell of 1000 fresh one dollar bills smells better than a bottle of any perfume costing $1000.

 

[slpfrsly]

The smell of 1000 fresh one dollar bills smells better than a bottle of any perfume costing $1000.

 

[CeeTee]

Quentin Bisch is a glorified salesman of the proprietary molecules with Givaudan. He’s been selling petalia/ambrettolide, now he’s on the akigalawoood streak.

YES. AND I DESPISE AKIGALAWOOD!

 

[CeeTee]

….
L'oreal, for instance, is killing their "masculines" in the United States market, but their reformulations were fine. Have had similar situations with reformulations many told me were supposed to be bad, yet are still doing fine.

Ow you’ e taken it too far! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

 

[CeeTee]

Florabotanica kicks a$$. I will die on that hill.

 

[sloelichen]

Geranium smells better than rose

 

[Melbourne Man]

That there are as many poor written reviews as video reviews.