Let’s Talk About It: Blind Buying Perfumes + Brave New World Draw

 

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There is no question that the availability of almost anything online has forever changed the face of retail. Shopping for necessities – and luxuries – is very different from what it was twenty years ago. Window shopping the brick and mortar stores and going to the mall for entertainment are fast becoming pastimes of the past, at least out here in the suburbs. These days I no longer get into the car, endure the traffic and fight for a parking space. I shop same day delivery while checking the morning e-mail in my PJs. Admittedly online shopping has its drawbacks. We can't tap the watermelon, feel the texture of the fabric, or smell the perfume, but there is no doubt that soon all of our senses will be engaged in a virtual brave new world of online shopping experiences.

Blind Buys: Climat, Calandre, vintage Coty Emeraude, Royal Secret,KL, Norell, vintage Tabu and Sirocco.

While I have always been an advocate of trying perfumes before buying (and personally sample countless fragrances) the sheer convenience of shopping online has tipped my scale in favor of buying blind. While writing this piece I've come to realize that a good 80% of my recent perfume purchases have been blind buys.

Anne Klein II (discontinued) and Maria Amalia (available and inexpensive).

Of that number well over 70% are love at first sniff, 20 plus percent quite nice and only about 5% scrubbers. Blind-buying perfumes is not for everyone, but it works for me. Here are some of the reasons why:

Micallef  Ylang in Gold, Jewel for Her and an M. Micallef Ramadan  Edition. Michelyn is a huge fan of M. Micallef and an enabler

First and foremost: I rely on the reviews and descriptions of bloggers, vloggers and Facebook groups for my blind buys. I also have several friends I consider my "scent twins" (and my colleagues at CaFleureBon’s opinions carry considerable weight). Whatever perfumes my “scent twins” love I am confident I will love too. There are certain notes that resonate with me and at least two fragrance houses whose offerings never disappoint. 

Bulgari Black and Rasasi Amber Oud.

While I truly appreciate the expense, creativity and sophistication that go into the artful, professional marketing of a fragrance, I can honestly say that while the ad campaigns and press releases may sway some of my most trusted reviewers, trends, romantic scenes and celebrity pitches do not directly influence my fragrance buys – blind or otherwise.

vintage Rochas Eau de Rochas

Price is another matter – especially when making a blind buy! 

Yann Vasnier's Divine and Adam Levine for Her-two ends of the price spectrum

I have a dollar limit for blind purchases and even go so far as to consider price per ml. Sometimes I do go over my limit, especially when trying to retrieve vintage fragrance memories (not technically blind buys). Favorite perfumers can often influence me.

Beautiful bottles such as Micallef Ananda Black  and discontinued flacon for  L'Artisan Parfumeur Premier Figuier

I am also a sucker for discontinued fragrances and collectable bottles, old and new. Limited editions, however, don't tempt me I know that something else, just as limited, with show up, sooner than later. Another factor that pushes me over budget are guaranteed return policies.

Mary J. Blige My Life and My Life Blossom from HSN

The home shopping networks offer designer, niche and even indie perfumes and return policies that include opened merchandise! My least successful blind buys have resulted from trying to smell like someone else. While not truly a blind buy, purchasing a fragrance because it smelled good on a stranger has almost always been a disappointment.

Micallef Puzzle No 2, Lolita Lempicka Elle L'aime and Versace Blonde.

Blind Buys – where do you stand?  Must you sniff first?? What lures you to a fragrance purchase?  Do blogs, vlogs, word-of-mouth, your scent-twin’s recommendation, Facebook groups, brand loyalty, perceived value, ease of shopping and returns – or something else – tempt you to buy blind?  Buying Blind – Let's talk about it!

Acqua Classica Borsari Parma (she won't be running out any time soon)

Disclosure: All these fragrances were Gail's blind buys and from her collection; all photos Gail unless noted.

Gail Gross, Senior Editor

Photo: tumblr

Gail is offering a “mystery” bottle of one of her Blind Buys to a US registered reader in the USA only. Please leave a comment about your own “Blind Buys”, which was a favorite and what lures you to make that un-sniffed fragrance purchase. Draw closes 11/24/2017. There is no spilled perfume

We announce the winners only on our website and on our Facebook page, so like Cafleurebon and use our RSS feed 

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27 comments

  • Marzipan says:

    Quite often it is the aesthetics of the bottles that makes me engage in blind buying. Also, if I love a house or a perfumer I feel less inhibited buying blind.
    I reside in the USA.

  • john lowery says:

    Looking through my wardrobe on Basenotes I see that all of my fragrances have been blind buys. My introductions come from reading multiple reviews on a particular fragrance and if I buy something not so great, I sell or swap. But that’s rarely the case. I live in the states

  • fazalcheema says:

    Heheheh, the moment I started reading the article, I knew this one is from Gail 🙂 I must say most of my purchases are blind buy as well though I do lot of research before to increase the chances of a successful blind buy. Sometimes blind buy is the only option, since I want to explore the classics of the past and I often fall in love with the compositions of the past. I am in US.

  • coryville says:

    In my effort to build up my fragrance collection, I take user reviews into consideration. I have made many blind buys recently, and I have yet to be disappointed.

  • Sue k says:

    I did a blind buy of the redone version of Aromatics Elixir hoping it would somehow be like the one I remembered since the current one isn’t even close. The best part was the pretty brown floral bottle. I doctored it up with some good essential oils. Which is the only thing I will blind buy now, based on the descriptions by the business owner. Otherwise it’s off to Indigo for a sniff and a sample! I am in the US.

  • GrandmaGaga says:

    I will admit that I am more likely to blind buy a fragrance if it is at the less expensive end but I will buy a pricier fragrance un-sniffed if I’ve read enough good reviews and something about it piques my interest. I find myself doing it less and less, though, as I continue on what I call my ‘perfume journey.’ I am in the US.

  • BostonScentGuy says:

    What a fun draw! I admit that I can get pretty swept up in a blind buying craze. Since purchasing a large collection and selling some stuff on eBay, I’ve made a deal with my Paypal account that I’m willing to blind buy something under 60 bucks and only things that will keep Paypal self-sustaining and afloat–no new bucks into the hobby outside of spending what I sell! Favorite blind and “semi” blind buys recently include Gucci Rush PH (semi-blind because I totally smelled this all the time as a teenager and 20-something without realizing it), Escada Pour Homme, Ma Liberte by Patou, and Live Jazz! I’m more willing to risk it on something blind based on reviews from blogs and reviewers I trust + reliable notes list. I am definitely a researcher before buying. Thanks for this draw! I’m in the US.

  • Roger Engelhardt says:

    I have bought many a fragrance as a blind buy. I usially rely on what the very good perfumery blogs are impressed with. I trust a few, including this page. I no longer go to the department store fragrance counters, the lastest and greatest clean and fresh! How boring!
    I got to know great perfumers by seeing them on social media and starting to follow them. Most of the classics are dead, with all the reformulations and banned ingredients, not woth the money.
    The indie perfumers have been good to me, not a one I don’t love, that is where most of my blinds buys are.
    I am in the US.

  • Richard Potter says:

    I have around 200 bottles, nearly all of them are blind buys. Perhaps 10% were not loves and consequently gifted to others. But the rest of them I wear and enjoy.

    Favorite blind buys? Lutens’ Rose de Nuit, Mendittorosa’s Le Mat, Dusita Oudh Infini, Bogue Maai, Vero’s Rubj.

  • BethMongold says:

    I have blind bought a couple times–my most satisfying purchase was Rania J’s Ambre Loup based on Kafkaesque’s blog. I mostly follow her recommendations, I’ve discovered we have similar taste. I most often rely on samples from Luckyscent, however, and occasionally purchase decants from Ebay or Surrender to Chance.
    I’m in the US, thanks for the fun article!

  • Dana U says:

    I have told myself no more blind buys because I’ve had more failures than successes. Even though I thought I did my research, I usually got suckered in by some great priced fragrance at Marshall’s or TJ Maxx. My best blind buy was Cuir de Lancome and this turned out to be one of my favorites in my whole collection. Thanks! I enjoyed the article and I’m in the US.

  • oldandsmelly says:

    Best blind buys have been: vintage Cabochard, Cuir de Lancome, Navegar by L’Artisan, and Cuir Ottoman Parfum d`Empire. I also rely heavily on reviews to pick blind buys but sometimes I just can’t pass up a bargain.

  • roxhas1cat says:

    I have one blind buy that was a disaster so I learned my lesson. I depend a lot on bloggers to determine what I should try to help me narrow things down. I always sample. I am fortunate that I have a Sephora, and 2 amazing perfume shops within a 45 minute drive. I have a few that I tried and decided within an hour to purchase and later didn’t love them as much as I thought. I prefer to take samples to try over several days. I am considering Scentsplit so that if I do make an error, it is a small one. Didn’t know blind buying is so popular. Thanks for the interesting read.

  • NiceVULady says:

    One blind buy was Carven’ Le Parfum which I like a great deal. Another was Boudoir by Vivian Westwood. I liked both. I’ve bought a few scrubbers, but I try to be very careful. I do read a lot and I pay attention to the notes. I try not to read the hype as I think that will could persuade where notes alone will not. I also must be extremely careful of expense. I do not blind buy” expensive(for me)” fragrances. Thanks for a different kind of article.

  • Old Herbaceous says:

    I’ve bought a lot of perfumes “blind” but usually after reading several reviews or looking them up on Fragrantica. I also enjoy reading about them in Luca Turin’s book and have sought out perfumes based on that, or on a review I’ve read in a blog. I love to buy discovery sets, as part of trying to learn the “vibe” of a particular house. I don’t order many samples because I’m lucky enough to live in a major US city where I can go to various stores and try fragrances in person; I also seek out niche perfumeries when I travel, where I can try scents. Before blogs, though, I sometimes blind-bought a fragrance I found on sale, and one of those became a real favorite. It is in one of your photos: Anne Klein II. So sad that it was discontinued!

  • Cody says:

    A blind buy of mine was Mont Blanc Individuel. Everyone spoke of its greatness and how lovely it smells. My wife hates it and I don’t enjoy the fragrance either. What lures me are positive reviews, presentation and a bargain price.

  • Diana D says:

    My first (and best) blind buy was at a duty free shop for Dior’s Hypnotic Poison. To this day, it is one of my most favorite fragrances!

    I live in the U.S.

  • MMKINPA says:

    One of my early blind buys was Lolita Lempicka. I ended up blind buying another 4-5 LL perfumes- mostly for the bottles, but I enjoy them all. Perhaps my favorite blind buy was a cheapie from TJ Maxx- SJP Covet. Maybe half of my full bottles were blind buys, but only the less expensive ones – I have a pretty strict $$ limit for a blind buy.

    Thanks for the draw, I’m in the US!

  • tasa says:

    Easily half of my collection has been a blind buy, but aided by uncounted people who submit thoughtful reviews online and engagement in fragrance nerd communities. I suppose those aren’t blind buys at all then? Nothing like going off of a promotional picture with a brand name and nothing more. These days, I tend to buy from smaller houses, that take a much greater care to put out marketing collateral with information that is helpful to the buyer. Sure, they don’t disclose every note and nuance, but what they do tends to be enough.

    A big draw for me is if it’s a fragrance that is being talked about a lot, and if it has interesting reviews from people I trust. Good materials, smart structure, all of those help. My last one was Miyako and it is as spectacular as advertised.

    In those rare instances where a blind buy did not work, I’ve been able to rehome the fragrance with someone who is very appreciative, so a win-win in sharing the bounty.

    I do wonder if I’m missing out. Because my blind buys hew closely to a set of notes I like, I am not allowing myself to experience the pleasure of an unexpected surprise I chance upon on the counter. But buying a bottle unsiffed is a big ask for a complete surprise, so I’m glad you’re doing this contest as a total surprise!

  • C.Georgio says:

    I loved this article, as I’m a YUGE BLIND BUT GUY! YRS, I SAID YUGE! LOL. the l This article described me to a T and I would be hard pressed as not to say that I like ALL my blind buys. I appreciate most just for the craft that they are. Fragrances is art. Although I may not like some pieces of art, I can most certainly appreciate the time and passion and skill devoted to a piece. My favorite blind buy is a recent purchase that I hated at first. By Killian’s Sweet Redemption smelled like Orange cleaner to me on first spray. Then I let the fragrances develop and it is an amazing scent. The orange subdues into an incensey vanilla that smells terrific with my chemistry. The satisfaction of blind buying and loving a fragrances is a rush. Thank you for the great article!

  • Carol Webb says:

    I have bought so many perfumes blindly and very rarely do I like, much less, love one. I have wasted so much money in pursuit of the perfect scent. I research, read, go over the notes, think I will love them… or maybe I like them but they set off a histamine reaction and I can’t wear them anyway. Now I have a couple boxes full of barely tested/used bottles that I end up putting out at a yard sale and no one will pay $5 for a bottle where I spent twenty times that. I now will request samples when I shop, or will wear no perfume so that I can test on me.

    I think the most recent blind buy I did that I actually liked was Mon Gerlain, which is pretty generic but it smells good on me, it doesn’t make me sneeze, and I’ve received many compliments on it. Unfortunately though I have learned that with my body chemistry I just need to test first.

    Interesting article, and interesting responses from everyone. Enjoyed reading.

  • SandiL says:

    I must admit.. I have had a huge success with blind buying.. Mostly due to scent-twins and my favorite perfume houses. Gail I too am a M.Micallef fan. Hum… we must have the same enabler 🙂 I do have a few BB that I had to get rid of, quickly. I’m not influenced much by the packaging either.
    Great article.. Cheers to the art of Blind Buying Fragrances.

  • Raee says:

    For me blind buy is like an adventure. I do my research but then it is a waiting game to see if I made the right choice or not.

    My most successful blind buy is Jo Malone, dark amber and ginger lily.

    I am in USA,WASHINGTON.

  • Gail says:

    Thank you all for taking the time to read and comment. Yes! Blind buying is like an adventure, a treasure hunt and a bit of a gamble too. Fortunately for me the more experienced I am the less of a risk I take. Also – My scent twins keep me busy wanting to try new fragrances!

  • Mim says:

    Huh, since sample and split sites became easy to find I have not really bought blind. Usually sales and limited editions sucked me in, especially with brands I knew often worked on me. I had some failures and it is a hassle to resell or swap so I try to always sample first (BostonScentGuy sounds quite sensible though, if reselling were more practical that’s probably what I would do). Reviews also influenced me a lot.

    I did not know there was anywhere that took opened returns! though honestly it would probably be easier to include a free sample vial with each sealed perfume….

    I think my last major blind buy was a few Montales which were majorly on sale years ago. Patchouli Leaves was awesome but I did not love the others. Or the PG ‘limited’ scents which became permanent, L’Ombre Fauve and Bois Blond. Those were loves, but I knew PG tended to work on me.

    On looking over my collection, I remembered that Tauer Dark Passage was a LE blind buy which was more recent and worked well!
    But over all I stuck to my sample first policy.

    Thanks for the article and also the comments
    USA

  • doveskylark says:

    I didn’t know Mary J. Blige had a fragrance. I love her!
    I just ordered Andy Tauer’s Hyacinth and a Mechanic as a blind buy. I usually have good luck blind-buying fragrances with a leather note. I love blind-buying cheap vintage fragrances. I had very good luck with Occur by Avon. I sometimes have bad luck with vintage florals–the headache risk is always there.
    I live in the USA.

  • RinB says:

    I’m a blind buyer also, and my process seems similar to yours, Gail. I tend to have about the same rate of success, too, which has been enough to encourage me to continue – although I notice that my tastes are narrowing, possibly as my collection grows. The draw is already over – I’m just commenting for fun – but I certainly am curious as to the identity of the mystery bottle 😉 I hope a blind win can be just as successful as a blind buy!