Are Fragrance Reviewers “Experts”? 

My personal experience:A lot of fragrance creators are salesmen / saleswomen. They sell you must own, panty dropper blah blah to push product on to you. I have even heard I didn't make you buy it which is true however I have noticed untrained / vulnerable / inexperienced / desperate minds will make decisions to get an outcome and a lot of fragrance youtubers prey on that idea.

One of the best fragrance quotes I ever heard was "WEAR FRAGRANCE AS IF YOU DON'T NEED IT" from the legend himself Justin Copeland and it sticks with me till this day...

This video should be viewed by every person who watches fragrance channels , Justin was cooking here and he left nothing unseasoned.. 💪🏾

So true! I was speaking with a local indie perfumer a while back and when I asked her which ones of her line-up was her favorite she said: "I can tell you which one I feel is my proudest work as a perfumer but that doesn't mean you'll feel that way or that it'll thrill you. The one I don't like may be the one you fall in love with. I can teach you about the notes and how they work in the formula. But as far as the end product, only your own nose will guide you. I love tuberose but you struggle with it. You may train your nose but you may just never grow to like tuberose. That's art. It's all in the eye of the beholder." So, tl;dr: don't trust snake oil salespeople.

Your channel is so good. I watch a few fragrance channels, and your addition to this community is much needed. Please never stop lmaooo

Your videos had lead me to sample multiple fragrances. I can truly appreciate the way you present your content, and how true you are to yourself. Because of you I recently discovered 2 scents that I'm absolutely floored with, they're Zaharoff Signature Pour Homme & Penhaligon's Sartorial. I thoroughly enjoyed both on first wearing and I plan on getting a full bottle of both sometime in the future.

I would say the most technical reviewer I have ever come across on RU-vid is Aaron Terrence Hughes. I believe he is a chemist by trade as well as a perfumist. He not only reviews the fragrance but he will sometimes delve into the complexities of explaining in layman’s technical detail how the fragrance works. I think fragrances are personal preference and should be handled on those terms. Merely buying a fragrance because you’re hoping to “drop some panties” or “get tons of compliments” speaks volumes about one’s own self esteem and confidence. How you carry yourself, how well you dress and groom yourself, and how confident you are, and how attractive you are will most likely garner the compliments more so than the fragrance will. A great smelling guy that exudes no confidence is most likely not going to get compliments on his fragrance because women know that a confident guy that doesn’t smell nice is an easier fix than a guy that smells great but lacks confidence. 😂. Women will pick confidence over the fragrances. For the most part, I think fragrance content creators try to give you their honest insight and interpretation of how a fragrance smells. I think most are passionate about the hobby and genuinely want to share their experiences with others. Regardless of what the reviewers says, it’s up to each person to make their own decisions based on their own research (samples, Fragrantica or Basenotes, etc.) before blind buying.

I actually was a candle guy before I got into fragrances but, I just like to be clean and smell good. I enjoy smelling pleasant scents. Great video !!!

Thank you for taking the time to do such content, man!

Spot on JC!. . . I remember when I 1st started my fragrance journey, I would buy fragrances and even blind buy because a fragrance reviewer hyped it up or said to get it and I would get it and end up being an average scent. As the years passed, I now sample everything regardless of hype and ONLY buy a full bottle of a fragrance I LOVE not just like. Keep up the great content and thanks for keeping it real! 👍🏽

I think that what you offer is independent of what someone is looking for from viewing your content. I consider your opinion highly valuable and have no reservations about referring to you as an expert. I keep viewing because I consider this educational entertainment and you’re doing a great job of keeping me interested.

Thank you for being honest - how refreshing! You speak about fragrance in a way that is helpful - not a laundry list of ingredients or ridiculous claims! It's more about the feeling you get when you wear it based on your experience! Then it's up to the public to decide if they want to pursue it!

I’ll be honest, when I see a thumbnail from any reviewer or influencer that says panty dropper i scroll by it to find something interesting. Not that I don’t find dropped panties interesting, i just don’t believe fragrances alone are capable of doing that. That’s why I watch this channel as much as I do. Keep up the good work Justin!

Love seeing/hearing some of your critical thoughts here! Bravo !

The other question we should be asking ourselves is what scent we ourselves like and is pleasing to us and our loved ones, rather than what is attractive to a majority of mostly random people…. So we need to smell and test ourselves !

I love this. This is entertainment and a way for people to share their enthusiasm. It isn't a how to guide.

great advise Justin,i got into this frag world a year ago and you were one of the 1st that i vibed with,because of you i blind bought john varvatos vintage which i love,its a great channel so keep up the good work,i also love the chemistry between you and Grace.

So true! Thank you for continuing to enlighten the fragrance community.

Well said young man, well said. I was hooked to this fragrance hobby for less than a year now by randomly smelling the extremely elegant and provocative Dior Fahrenheit EDT. Used to smell it all the time on my Dad when I was little, it reminds me of simpler and happier times, maybe that's why I like it? Can't say for sure. Anyway, I opened up RU-vid to explore more fragrances, and of course I fell a victim to what you just mentioned. I blind bought a couple of mainstream stuff based on some reviewer's recommendation (the reviewer was all over RU-vid) so I trusted him/her and bought a couple of the "Top 10", (I'm not financially stable at all). I regreted it, and I wish I knew your beautiful channel before his/hers. Definitely wouldn't have left it in search for other channels.

Nope. We're all just hobbyists and collectors sharing opinions and sometimes selling products.

Very well said brother. I love that you touch on fragrance topics that other reviewers don't dive into.

This type of content is absolutely rare nowadays. It is refreshing to see your critical approach on the matter of fragrance world. Thanks for providing quality contents. Love your work and evolution. Be blessed !

100% agree. But i think this just a sign of the times. I find in real life people are increasingly unlikely to be able to tell the difference between fact, opinion, and subjective perspective. Its sort of arose with the rise of media, where critical thinking is over time is slowly eroding.

I don't comment much but I have to say this is a great video, the distinction between expert and hobbyist can get blurred at times. Glad you made this video shedding light on the differences.

I have very rarely come across fragrance ‘reviewers’ on this platform, as there’s very little review but plenty of content. There’s no critical analysis of what is being smelt, more description and then arbitrarily listed format. I would prefer balance instead of the condescending exposition and what seems like appeasement to continue in the same vein. If everything is positively reviewed and represented then it’s not really a ‘review’ more product placement

100% spot on, whether it's food or fragrances. Pretty much any experience in life, really. I think sometimes the hype alone is enough for people to pick up a new bottle. I know I've done it and I've been disappointed in that decision. Samples are 100% the way to go if you can't get somewhere to try them in a store first. Just because a pretty girl or handsome gentlemen tells you the fragrance is going to work magic does not mean it actually will. Stop falling for it. Yes I'm reminding myself.

Thank you for the content Justin. You mentioned critical thinking, which is something that many people lack. The big companies don't want everyone to be critical thinkers. They want people to be impulsive & irrational as it will sell more products. Common sense, critical thinking and delay gratification will be more beneficial for the consumer. I can tell that you are a deep thinker and you create content that offers value with honest opinions. I respect that you offer entertainment as well as genuine perspectives instead of just selling hype. Cheers

Very true Justin. Thats why i listen to you, Ross and one or two others for the options available out there and what we might get from them... Especially considering ive learned two or three people can smell the same fragrance but all smell something different. Oh, and I appreciate the tonkzure review cuz even though all i have is a sample, its one of my favorites along with another from Gallagher Fragrances.

Great video once again! In this current world of endorsement and influencing, it's really great to hear some words of sanity. Fragrances are a great hobby, but it's easy to get carried away with all the sales pitches.

You are great at what you do regardless of titles. I appreciate you 💯

I don't think we share the same tastes at all... but I still love your channel, because of videos like this... =)

NO, WE ARE NOT!!!

MANY reviewers just sell tags and clicks. Descriptions like "10 Panty droppers!" As if that's a concept that exists... they also sell things to you or just simply ride the hype wave. Make content on stuff that's hot right now just to get views... that's why I rock with your channel. Just honest opinions about things you like and don't and we can take your word or not dependent on your thoughts mixed with our own research.

Great video. It was a bery insightful take on the fragrance community as a whole.

Great discussion. I watch a few fragrance channels for insight on fragrances and if it sounds interesting to me I'll make a buying decision. Other than that this is all purely infotainment to me. Your insights are always valuable because it veers away from the typical mass appeal stuff.

Exactly what’s needed to be heard. Justin… you’re the man !!! 👍🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Why I watch frag vids : Information(on performance more or less) and Entertainment... for me ... I don't blind buy.(...often, unless crazy deal😅)...PS Great vid.

As expected....well thought out and executed 👏👏👏

I would not consider a reviewer an expert. I would say an expert is someone who can create a new fragrance from notes to having the juice in the bottle. A perfumer is an expert. Reviewers only express how a fragrance smells or makes them feel anyone can do that.

Keep it real, Justin. Love this!

What I learned in insurance is that a little training can make you an expert to somebody with zero training. I consider the reviewers that actually create successful fragrances to be experts. The consequence of being that deep into the craft is a gradual loss of relatability to a general audience. Reviewers with similar tastes were very helpful when I was new. They made learning the size of the market digestible and narrowed my focus. The breadth of fragrances offered is overwhelming when you are new and don't even understand most of the notes yet. Reviewers are great at describing these notes and directing you towards quality examples. A shocking amount of people are also blind to bias and marketing, but completely willing to buy into the luxury image the industry creates for itself. Some people do not have a critical mind or even the desire to analyze these things. This is all fine for someone that wants to dip a toe in to the hobby, grab what they really want, and move along. The people that decide to go for a swim should do so with intent and cognizance because it's easy to drown. I believe this type of content is the bridge many people need to start doing that.

Thanks for the video Justing. THIS is the content I subscribed to ❤

Great video. Always loved your style. You got a lot of class.

Great job Justin

Good video. And unfortunately very necessary. In the end though anyone willing to blind buy fragrance can only blame themselves when it inevitably fails or flatters to deceive. Any grown ass adult knows they can sample these scents easily if they show patience and wait to visit a bricks and mortar store. Patience is truly a virtue now in these internet instantaneous times we live in. As is restraint. The person with both is king.

Hey Justin I have a request for a video..have been searching for the absolute best of the best vanilla, so if you could share what your favorites are id appreciate it. Vanilla is used so often, but im wondering which ones have focused on that note and taken it as high as it can go in every way

Great video Justin! Thanks for this! 💯

I don't think anyone considers anyone here on RU-vid an 'expert' per se but rather we tune in because you guys (fragrance creators) have put their nose to so many different fragrances we didn't even know existed so we want a 'go-to' channel we can trust to discover new scents and smells we'd enjoy with our hard earned money. The issue I think a lot of people have with the fragrance community now is that creators have stopped feeling like 'reviewers' and have started to feel more like salesmen. You can't tell when something is an advert disguised as a review video or when something is a true critique of a fragrance. It's not even that the creators are being paid millions to do this but they may be getting perks and benefits/paid trips to product launches by these fragrance houses. The book 'The Ghost Perfumer' is fantastic and talks about the deception that is almost intertwined with the fragrance world and how so many of the marketing stories behind each house are nothing but lies and tall tales. I think a lot of reviewers have lost views not because people think they're experts and are then shocked to learn that isn't the case but rather they now don't know which personalities are those they can trust. The best salesmen are honest salesmen who you know are salesmen because they make sure of it and not those pretending to be your friend sneakily pushing things at you when your guard is down. You're one of the few who come across as being very genuine but I think people have now grown wiser to how fake a lot of the world is (politics, marketing, consumerism, state-owned news channels, the company people find themselves in etc.) and so they will naturally end up gravitating to the most genuine personalities who aren't afraid to let you know something smells like an animal's butthole (looking at you Hyrax by Zoologist) even if everyone else seems to love it. Expert or not, authenticity is something far rarer to find in this day and age than expertise.

I watch because you help give options of sites to see on this fragrance journey. And your suggestions also help me discover and try out OGs, which makes me appreciate where many flankers or modern frags came from. Love your transparency, keep up the awesome work.

Along with sampling and willing to be surprised, I think it's also valuable to ignore scores on fragrance community websites, particularly when you like a fragrance and it has a low score. Ignore it and enjoy it! Similarly, strongly dislike a fragrance that gets amazing reviews? Trust your nose and how how a fragrance makes you feel.

To all of you guys, Thankyou for the “ Education “. When people want to move on from the mass market designer stinks. Or just grow up! An want better! I for one would never have knowen what I’ve learned from you an other guys doin the niche market. So huge Thankyou for opening our eyes, minds, hooters an tastes we would never normally have learned about. Goto any large department store anywhere in the world an what do you find? Channel, YSL, Boss, etc etc. This is the spoonfed stuff to make names an money. Suddenly, Xerjoff, Frappin, Thameen, Bodecia, etc come into our lives from guys like your great self. Without your input an education, these stinks would never see the light of day for most of us! So huge Thankyou for all that you an others do. Play ya horn son!❤❤❤❤😂😂😂😂👍👍🙏🙏🇬🇧🇬🇧🥃🥃

I know how a car works. That doesn’t make me a mechanic, much less an expert. I think there is just way too much low effort content. It’s a buzzfeed list with background music that AI could narrate. People want to sell bottles and they want to crank out short videos daily to appease the algorithm. Its hard not to be cynical but I find very few channels that do it for the love and the passion. Justin I definitely like these topical discussions far more than a lists so keep up the good work.

Experience counts for quite a bit.

Hi Jusin, I would like to see a more intellectual approach to perfume, something like evaluating the body of work of different noses and your opinion on their creations. Hope you like this idea :)

This is literally why I follow you.

Fragrance Content is just like any other. Find the creators you enjoy, whose end products and opinions you trust will bring you personal satisfaction and allow you to live your best life. Is your content "boring?" Sure. But boring in the way that the Godfather movies are "boring" compared to Sharknado AND THATS FINE! I'm not 16 anymore. I want to learn about fragrances from enthusiasts that put thought and purpose into their content, not to waste 10 minutes of my life watching an endless tornado of the same panty dropper videos. Expert or not, its an opinion that I trust.

All Facts!!!❤💯💪🏾

Just people with their opinions about what they like and don’t like. They’ve just smelled more fragrances than the average consumer.

🔥🔥🔥 video ..straight forward ..thanx

And just like that….you moved to the tippy top of my fragrance “influencers” those who keep it real and just lay it all out there go further imo. Kudos

Great video my man.

There are no experts but yes the closest ones are the perfumers. In your case, you are indeed a critic whose opinion is valued by those that dont want to be basic like the FreshSquad.

Just put Custin Jopeland on so we know which ones will drop the panties, bro! 🙃

100% accurate

Not the dropping of the panties..😂

Amen!

Cool 😎

I think, you think too much about it:) it’s just perfume. You review it and i sometimes buy it..

Unofficial expert you are!

I guarantee John Varvatos Vintage!!

IMO if you have ever benefited financially from the promotion or sale of a fragrance, you lose your credibility as a "reviewer" and are strictly an influencer. It's like expecting me to make an unbiased review of other cars if I created my own brand of car. All of these influencers creating fragrances with companies and making money from the sale of those fragrances automatically makes them unqualified to be an objective source of information. That's it. You can argue with me, but it's the reality of the situation. And no, most fragrance influencers are not experts. It takes next to no knowledge of fragrance to put a camera on yourself and tell a captive audience that you know more than them. There are plenty of other more popular fragrance influencers who also prove this point. It doesn't take much to be able to go to fragrantica and tell a bunch of people in a video what you are reading.

haent watched the video an it is an easy answer, NO they are not

First and you’re fantastic