Are Fragrance Reviewers Preying On Your Addiction? 

Not sure what happened to the last 10 seconds of the video, must have gotten corrupted. Nonetheless, what do you think? Is there a middle ground here?

I recently came to the realization that I have an addictive personality. Not with drugs. With collecting things. I collect guns, cologne, watches, shot glasses, and knowledge. Whenever I find something I like, I want all of them. Then I do a lot of research. Which led me here to fregrance review videos.

I believe everything in life has a balance. When it comes to fragrances, sometimes it’s hard to see because it plays on emotion. Fragrance reviewers do a great job in evoking emotional response to a scent. But this video here brings balance to the viewer by having these conversations. Great content as always bro!!

Very honest video, I have around 30 or so fragrances, it started to feel like a problem a few months ago. I bought fragrances that I don’t really like, always looking for the next one. I’m glad I stopped relatively soon, spent a lot of money but could’ve gotten worse. I stopped buying impulsively months ago. I was starting to get embarrassed when a new fragrance arrived home and hide it from my wife, that’s addiction: hiding, lying, feeling embarrassed so I stopped. I recently saw an Spanish reviewer that just quit, with hundreds of perfumes and feeling bad about it. So be careful. Now I enjoy reviews without that “ I got to buy it” feeling. You Should make videos about how to put together a small collection, for me 10 fragrances is the number. I really enjoy about 10 fragrances from my collection. Thanks Bro, keep being honest.

I definitely am addicted to fragrances. I have a select few. That I consider my personal masterpieces and all the rest are just ones I buy out of curiosity, boredom , compulsion. I flip a lot of fragrances and I also have multiple back ups of favorites. I get frustrated frequently when deciding what to wear because I search for what matches my mood but needs to match the weather and situations. It’s very frustrating borderline insane. I prob could have bought a Tudor watch with what I’ve spent on decants alone but then again I’d prob want another with the white dial 😂

I started thinning out my collection lately. Got rid of some that I thought I should enjoy because they were “popular”, and started sampling ones that I found interesting. I ONLY buy full bottles if I run out of a sample and STILL feel drawn towards it. Even then, I buy the smallest bottle I can. I know for a fact that I won’t wear through a 30ml or 50ml bottle of anything anytime soon. Just makes me kind of upset when I see people posting online about “Gucci Guilty Absolute is in stock again! Buy it now before it’s gone!” When in reality, most people are going to hate it after they drop $120 on a big ol bottle because it’s a lot more challenging than they were expecting it to be.

I agree. Overbuying fragrances leads to shopping addiction. It is the thrill of acquisition, more than the thrill of a new scent. Then, guilt sinks in. It is a vicious cycle. And, yes, I do think that fragrance reviewers play a big part of that as enablers, even if it is not their intention.

I’m working on reducing and curating my collection to a ‘perfect’ 16 bottles. Just 4 for each season with a few that can overlap some of the seasons : Autumn/Winter, Winter/Spring & Spring/Summer. I don’t want to be one of those guys that have over 100 bottles. I think 16 is a lot still but I tried to work it out and thought 4 would be the Best, but I have too many I ‘love’ . I then started thinking of occasions that then turned into something too specific so I decided that I would only need 4 a season for all occasions and all weathers (I live in the UK so I have to think of mainly overcast days, morale reducing rain, exactly 17 days of hot weather and ‘wished you’d put a thicker coat on cold) no ‘date night’, ‘office’, ‘pool party’ etc; otherwise I would’ve invented occasions : ‘Autumn nighttime wedding reception’ scent or ‘Spring early evening just going for a drink after work scent’

I was okay with having 4 perfumes last 5years. After I gained some weight during this pandemic, my self confidence level hit the bottom, and believe the "magic effect" that perfumes can bring to me and I've purchased over 15 bottles plus huge amount of samples these couple of months. I'm actually not enjoying it anymore but I'm actually obsessing to buy those trendy niche perfumes. Your videos mean a lot to me, I'm a student and I shouldn't be doing this really. I appreciate you making this honest video and hope many people realize that the obsession is not healthy and there is no magic perfume that can change you initially.

I'm loving these unique videos you keep putting out Justin. As regards to this one, I definitely find myself being persuade to buy fragrances I never heard of or thought about simply by reviewers I trust. Sometimes the payoff is good and sometimes it is bad. It seems the only victim in this is my wallet.

Once I added up all my frags and did some math, I realized I had about 30 years worth of fragrances and that's if I used them everyday. That was my personal wake up call

I was in that space but thankfully, I've been able to re-sell fragances that simply don't move me. In fact, I woke up this morning to an Ebay notification that my Oud Royal had been sold. Solid video and a solid point my brother. I respect your honesty and courage and yes, some of these reviewers have become defacto paid marketers. I'm not hatin tho..it's just a reality my brother 👍🏽👑👏🏾

Props to you for addressing the elephant in the room Justin. I started my fragrance collection at the end of last year, and have gotten 13 different colognes over the last 3 months. I totally see what you're saying, as I've spent over $1000 on colognes alone in the past few months, yet I only use the 2-3 I'm in love with. I'm glad I saw this video last week and it really emphasized my issue before it got any bigger. I've since sold 3 colognes I'm not in love with, and from this point on I'll only keep 10 fragrances that I'm in love with at any given time. Thanks for opening my eyes.

Outstanding and pure 💯 Real talk! Thank you for stating the obvious. I can tell you as someone who has always loved fragrances i.e. candles, perfume, fabric creamer…that I always kept a solid 3-5 calognes my entire life until…I started watching RU-vid fragheads. Man the drive for more is nuts 🥜. I went from 5 to 40 in three months. I love scents for different settings and moods but for me Im tapped out! Anyways, great video! Great content as always! You and Grace are my favorite to watch.

I stopped myself at 9 bottles. The main reason? I don't want to enter the double digits. But I also realize that realistically, if I want to use all of them by the time they expire (yes, I keep everything stored in a cool, dark & dry place), I should keep my collection to a reasonable size. I personally find it reasonable to have 1 or 2 fragrance for each "occasion," and I decided to finish one bottle before opening another, to preserve their scents. Currently, this is what I own; SUMMER 🏖️HOT Summer Day: -Dior Homme Cologne ->Allure Homme Édition Blanche 🌅Daytime: -L'Homme -L'Homme Ultime° 🌌Evening/Night: -Y Le Parfum ->La Nuit de L'Homme Bleu Électrique* WINTER 🔆Daytime: -The One EDP ->Armani Code EDP 🌃Evening/Night: -Armani Code Absolu* *The ones that have stars are favorites that I have a backup bottle of stashed away, especially with LNDL Bleu Electrique having been discontinued. Edit: The spacing between sections was out of whack so I fixed it.

I just gave an 8-minute speech at Toastmasters on Fragrance addiction. As men there are several F’s we need to focus on in their order of importance: 1) Focus: having a clear & concise idea of who you are, your values, your mission and vision of your life 2) Family: focus on positive relationships with you family, your father, your mother and siblings 3) Friends: improving your social skills and meeting new people that push your comfort zone 4) Fitness: getting 150 minutes of cardio, consisting of steady-state aerobic, anaerobic interval training, walking, climbing, strength training and stretching 5) Fashion: get a style, continue to work on your style, accessorize with watches, bracelets, rings. Have a wardrobe that includes ties, great Italian leather shoes 6) Females: once all these things are in place you’ll have better odds getting women, but more importantly KEEPING women 7) FRAGRANCE: scent It is so easy as a man to focus on the last ‘F’ of Fragrance because it is the easiest dopamine hit. Proper life focus and fitness may take years to hone, but buying and continuing to collect fragrances takes but an afternoon to purchase and less than 5 seconds to apply! @DannyFragrance

I just bought a bottle of Armarf sillage and have not opened it and I’m already looking for my next bottle , I am now not allowed to say anything to my wife about buying a purse .🤦‍♂️

I actually started getting addicted to fragrances from watching fragrance reviewers like yourself. Your content draws me in and makes me just want to smell great so I’m looking for the next best thing.

I have 40 bottles half of the them niche. Probably another 40 Decants. Fortunately I enjoy all of my bottles, and a half of those decants. Do I need more no, there are some more that I want though, Triumph of Bacchus And cruis del sur11. I’m trying to slow down. Enjoy the ones I have.

Wow. What a heartfelt and honest commentary. Call it what you may, there is an exciting but ultimately addictive quality to fragrances. There is always a search for my next “Holy Grail”. Even though I wear fragrances that suits my mood (not for compliments), my collection absolutely got out of control during the pandemic where I blind bought 95% of my collection. I’ve started giving some away and I have largely curbed the itch for more. That being said, this olfactory journey has been totally worth it for me. I love your content tremendously Justin. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many comments on any videos of yours after an hour. You totally hit a nerve. Keep bringing the fire🔥🔥. Peace

Love this video! One of the realest I’ve seen in a long time. My passion tuned into an addiction without me noticing. I’ve had to slow down my blind buys. But Honestly it is very difficult at times. I guess the 1st step is knowing.

800 decants, continuous hunting of fragrances, 50+ to 100 bottles, buying at a whim, uwff. Thanks that I am not in that place, and hope those in blind addiction seek help. No one should be overwhelmed over any hobbies. TY Justin for the message over YT, good work.

Great points, Justin. I appreciate that you are careful in telling viewers to not blind buy/impulse buy when you talk about a fragrance. I think another factor is how platforms like IG, twitter, and YT capitalize on our interests (thanks to the algorithm) and make it much easier to purchase with a click of a mouse/tap of a finger.

I gave away quite a few of the fragrances from my collection to my family members and sold some off. I do believe I have too much. However, I do enjoy having a variety of fragrances and I have been more selective with my more recent acquisitions. My focus is more quality over quantity. Great topic as usual Bro. 👌🏾

THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO!!! I thought I was alone. I've literally bought 100 fragrances in a less than 90 days and it hit me...I'm tripping! Thank you for this. As far as reviewers preying...I don't think so. Especially with the reviewers I watch. Seems like they're just sharing their passion. Now, I'm sure there are those reviewers who do prey on those who watch their videos but I mostly think it's on me more so them. I could be wrong though. Once again, thank you for your content.

It's similar to wanting to read all the best books in the world, there's just simply not enough time. There comes a point where you to take a step back and be grateful for what good things you did find and be happily contempt. Nowhere not enough time and energy that's actually worth investing into searching for "perfect" fragrance from a normal consumer standpoint. It's a mad cycle when you hit a certain point in your collection/ journey. I personally only own a few bottles with a bunch of decants and I'm always quite overwhelmed in deciding which I want to wear because I struggle with being a perfectionist sometimes and chase wearing the perfect cologne for the perfect scenario. I think I'll give myself a tiny TINY bit more time to get a few more decants for a great "work" genre fragrance because I am content and satisfied with what I've found for a date night and a gym fragrance. So maybe when you find something for each general scenario I feel is an optimal time to take step back and enjoy your fragrances and discontinue your spending/searching until you COMPLETELY run out of the juice. You definitely gotta pace yourself and balance it all out, otherwise it can definitely become a consuming like addiction. Best wishes to all the fraghead community ❤

I hear ya Justin. And in my opinion you know you’re an addict when you’re willing to spend hundreds of dollars on a bottle of Cologne just because it’s “Niche” or when you buy 3 or 4 back up bottles of a fragrance even though chances you’re never gonna run out of the original bottle if you rotate your fragrances properly. You’re basically just throwing your money away. Luckily I don’t have either of those habits. I’ve got 80 fragrances in my collection, no back up bottles and I only buy decants of Niche. The only full bottle niche I’ll eventually get is Mancera Cedrat Boise because it’s not too expensive and it’s the most versatile and mass appealing niche fragrance on the Niche market in my opinion. And not only am I satisfied with my collection but I’m more than happy with it. Good money management 💪🏼🔥

I happened with stamps and 1st editions, and now it's happening with frags. I've thrown away about 40. I have about 60 now. I'm a fragaholic. I do think the frag companies know their target. They keep reformulating, discontinuing, hyping, and there's no end in sight to how they manipulate their clientele. Then there are the reviewers who are also manufacturers. I think they're the worse. It's a set up. Before you know it they've got other reviewers triangulating on you, make you think you got the right dope from different sources. No, they're the one and only source. They just paid the other reviewers off with bottles of their juice, and whatnot.

It was a great honest topic you brought to the viewers, mostly fragheads, I believe and thanks for that. 🙏🏽As this word describes, we are “frag-heads” like “pot-heads”. To some extent as Justin mentioned except perhaps the beginners who only be happy with few bottles, most of us are addicted to adding more fragrances. And I do believe RU-vid reviewers are indirectly preying us because usually we are encouraged by hearing like “go get that one”. These common phrases are mentioned many times by many reviewers, same as “you should/might want to get your hands on this!”. BUT, I don’t believe in blaming on the reviewers but each one of us VIEWERS if/when this hobby becomes more addicting. I for one, believe moderately addicted and am aware of it at least. What I am concerned for others is their financial stress on their lifestyle. Fragrances are not necessity, but luxury. If someone especially who needs to bring food on the table for family, pay bills, pay the education for kids…etc you know where I’m going at this. I’m in a financial service industry that’s helping people to get more education how to manage their money and 90+% of people are off track financially and many of them don’t even know they are! If they earn just an average salary or slightly above average and paying bills, but they don’t have enough money to put aside for the retirement, kids education, big trip or emergency…etc but always feeling short at the end of the month (living paycheque to paycheque) or worse yet you have to use more credit cards to satisfy the expenses or even simple things such as food and other essentials then that is a huge red flag. 🚩 I see many in the fragrance community that they keep selling their beloved fragrances to acquire another fragrances, or becoming a decant machine to collect some $$ and buy another niche bottle…etc, they might not realize but they are playing a very dangerous game called financial train wreck or financial disaster. Especially during this uncertain economy and pandemic, no one’s job is safe or guaranteed anymore and our job could be taken away or axed half way anytime! Or we might get into accident or get sick, then the income suddenly stops or slashed as well, frighteningly. If you have enough funding(worth 6 to 12 months at least for emergencies) put aside then it’s a different story but I think average income earners don’t usually have “enough” and we don’t even have a written game plan for super important matter such as money. So where this expensive and addictive hobby plays out? It depends but if you are kind of person you are an average income earner and spending more than you can afford overall, then you need to start splashing the actual “toilet water”, not Eau de Toilette, on your face, look at your face in the mirror, ask yourself, what are you doing?? And then look at your family that needed to be fed and taken care of. If you feel uneasy in your gut, then you still have a hope. But if you don’t know how you feel, then Justing needs to blow his trumpet 🎺 in your ears to wake you up! 😂😂 At the end of the day though, it’s all up to our own “smart” and disciplined choice and decision and we need to know the priority in our life. This hobby is so easy to get hooked on and go down the downward spiral road very quickly without noticing it. Partly because we all feel and become addicted to the repetitive “instant gratification” of getting some more new stuff and the same as any other material stuff. It’s so easy to stay online, being so pumped up by constant feeding the brains on RU-vid and other social platforms, other fragheads’ brag and proud beautiful collections, online discounters, advertisements, retail stores….etc. checking thousands of fragrances every day and order more at the tip of our fingers (without angel’s warnings😹😹)This is not helping at all! So again, the RU-vid reviewers definitely play a huge role to people’s addictions to be honest, however, I don’t think they are responsible and to be pointed the finger at for our problems because we better know as adults our own behaviour, right? (Speaking to myself as well🙈) If anyone here has huge collections (more than 30) and not feeling excited or happy with many of what you have, then first thing you need to do is watch less reviewers, check other people’s collections, engage less with fragrance community or people in the common group, check less online or retail stores…etc. And at the same time, do some spring cleaning, declutter your collections by selling them. You will feel much better yourself by getting some money back! Ask yourself a question if you are a family man. “When was the last time you bought some flowers, heartfelt small gift, dinner…etc to your partner?” “When was the last time you did something special for your kids?” When was the last time you spend time with your parents, brother/sister, grandparents? If you answered a while ago or not at all, then these things are more important than buying another disappointing or so so fragrance bottle that costed you $200 and going to be soon forgotten and get covered with some dust. I know what I also need to work on so to be aware of our issues is the very first step and let’s go to the next step to make ourselves feels more right and more genuinely happy and content. Peace! 🙏🏽✨🕊🍀

I’ll be honest... I know I have a problem with it. I am EXTREMELY OCD. I deal with a lot of anxiety, OCD intrusive thoughts and depression. I have tried to replace a lot of that with “the hunt” of fragrances. I love fragrances. They sooth me. I can say that I’m not disappointed with any of my 68 bottles. Even the cheapies. They serve their purpose. But, I did end up in a financial crunch. Am still but, I’ve stopped buying for the last few months. Still always looking though. lol. Looking and telling myself “you don’t need that right now.” And ultimately I walk away from it. I’ve cut down from a few a week to 1 a month. RU-vidr reviews did certainly fuel that want ALOT in the beginning. But, with this vid, your last vid on the topic and a vid I watched from Ash a few weeks ago, they actual made me take a step back and realize that yes, it is a problem. That all being said, like you mentioned in your last vid on the topic, yeah there definitely are days where I look at my collection and want to sell it and dwindle it down to the ones I wear the most. But, in the fragrance community everyone is looking for a rad deal and I’m not so eager to sell off a fragrance at half the price because I’ve sprayed it 6 times like it’s a used car. That’s silly. lol

I can say fragrances do really have an effect on my mood. That being said, I'm always looking for the next best thing. Do I have a problem? Yea, but I acknowledge it and try to keep myself in check. Great topic to cover.

Thank you for this video! I have an outrageous addiction to fragrances. Be it fragrances for women, men or unisex. If I like it, I buy it. I was also a horrible blind buyer at one point. Not many fails but it was still ridiculous. I’ve had to step away from social media because of its strong influence in the community. I’ve been trying my best to get out to smell fragrances for myself instead of always going off of recommendations. Now, I’m never going to stop purchasing because fragrances put me in such a happy space. However, I am working on limiting myself. Doing it that was also creates some sort of sentimental value in each purchase.

Man, this is an interesting and timely topic. I reached a point a few months ago where I decided to step back a little and sell a lot of my collection that I wasn't really reaching for anymore. It was tough, and kind of emotional getting rid of some bottles -- especially ones I've owned for a long time -- but I've made good progress. However, just this past week I put in two separate orders of multiple bottles so I know the addiction is real; in the end that's no-ones problem but my own though. I don't think that as reviewers you are "preying" off peoples addictions, just like any other hobby/interest that costs money there will always be people who want to elevate/look for new ways to enjoy their hobby and look to passionate people who can potentially guide them into the next stage of their enjoyment. I'm glad influential people such as yourself are discussing a more harmful side of collecting so that people may be a little more introspective on what they want out of this hobby and hopefully land at a more enjoyable place in their journey. Great video Justin, thanks for sharing!

Great topic and video

At one point, I remember owning over 20 bottles that were just hanging on my shelf. I honestly felt a little disgusted with myself as i'm not a man of excess. I have now done the following 2 fragrances for the summer 2 fragrances for the spring 6 fragrances for fall and winter Truth be told, I might sell a couple more bottles. Even with a 10 bottle lineup, there are still some that i'm not using as much. I'm seeing what's sticking in my rotation the most (grand soir, enigma) and what is starting to fade out even while in season (layton, dhp).

We all needed this

Thank you for bringing this topic up. There is a level of addiction to watching fragrance reviewers show case the newest and most attractive fragrances out there, especially, on RU-vid. What you said while so true to just be mindful at how we consume and try to find the next high when it comes to fragrances. I will try to be mindful on not breaking the bank in purchasing most importantly to remember that fragrances is like how we enjoy tasting various foods (creole, Mexican, Chinese, Ethiopian, Italian, etc.) and not be controlled by it where it will give you health issue when consuming to much. This is how I look at fragrances as well.

I enjoy watching a very few, select reviewers whom I find entertaining, authentic, genuine and whom I regard as having particularly good taste and experience. Justin is, without question, one of them. However, as much as I love fragrances and keeping abreast of - and learning about - different scents, I have only a select few. By which I mean about twenty - absolutely more than enough! Nothing is bought on a 'whim' or in a compulsive manner. That's not allowed by me. My fragrances are seasonal and split between appropriateness of use, ie; formal, informal, daytime, evening etc. I absolutely have signature scents that have been with me for many years - like Heritage, by Guerlain (since 1997!) - and other 'staples', like vintage Envy by Gucci. Each year, however, when I restock for the season ahead, I'm open to new fragrances to replace (empty) ones that I don't necessarily regard as being of the most value to me. I will have enjoyed them, for sure, but I'm open to replacing them. That's where people like Justin are invaluable. I learn so much that I can then test out during the interim and, when I restock each season, I'm equipped with information on potential new scents to REPLACE others that I don't repurchase. Simples! I hold one person and one person alone both responsible and accountable for my spending; myself. And I never exceed the (arguably generous, but) strictly limited budget I set myself, period. Works for me.

Great discussion starter. I would offer the following: IF “addiction” is a true issue, than reviewers might offer a tag line that their content should be used as a resource for those researching fragrances and/or entertainment. Perhaps adding a referral to a source of assistance in combating addiction. That , to me , at least, would evidence a modicum of social responsibility. That being said, I personally don’t feel overwhelmed. I’ve LOVED & purchased fragrances since I was in High School . I never stopped purchasing fragrances BUT I discovered the Niche Parfum community about 2-2.5 years ago and instantly became what I suppose would be called a collector. I enjoy the sense of community that you and others foster plus I relish the pursuit of a hobby that has been a part of my life history. I am, however, at a point at which I have just about everything I need for a comprehensive collection: something for every season in NJ and every occasion. So, my purchases have waned and my selection process changed. I still watch my favorite reviewers daily (because I love participating in this fragrance community) but my selection process is now adapted to my current situation/collection: (a) as a devout blind buyer, I am now switching to sampling so that I ONLY buy that which blows me away…which is what my current collection does. Despite by blind but success record, I no longer leave room for error. (b) I will probably continue to purchase offerings from my top favorite Houses and/or Perfumers if they appeal to me because I trust those Houses and have high expectations…for example if Cecile Z or Amouage create something, I’m at least going to check it out because I LOVE their work. (c) if I learn of a “masterpiece “ from reviewers, I’ll investigate the same. So, in that context, great reviewers, such as yourself (and Grace), continue as valued resources for me BUT NOT as “Pushers”. This is a hobby that brings me great satisfaction and is functional. I’ve been wearing fragrances since the mid-70s and don’t plane to ever stop.

Very good video, Justin. I’ve crossed into that threshold from hobby to addiction and that was not my intent. I’ve been into fragrances since my senior year of HS (2001); however, I’ll admit that viewing these content creators took me above and beyond!

I got depressed and kept buying fragrances to make me happy because i gained weight during the pandemic stopped fitting my clothes and thought buying fragrances will make me happy. Now I’m in a workout and eating regiment and am selling all my fragrance except for the 5 i absolutely love

I totally agree, I have well over 200 fragrances at this point and from time to time I have those feelings to stop, and then something catches my interest and before you know it, I have another bottle on the shelf. I have cut back substantially but still find myself making purchases I know I could have done without. In short, I think the addition is real.

Totally agree with you Justin. I've only been growing my collection seriously these past 2 years but have to admit that I have a bit of an addiction. I started by building my designer collection extensively before delving into niche and that's where the real problem begins. I religiously follow a number of RU-vid fragrance channels and have found myself becoming so absorbed to the extent that I'm always looking for my next purchase. Niche fragrances are much more expensive (I now have over 50) so I have had to tell myself to be more selective about what I purchase focusing only on the best from each fragrance house. I currently have a list of 10 fragrances (designer and niche) which I would like to add to my collection but only when the right offer comes along ie a discount code of between 15 - 25%. I do find myself constantly monitoring websites for offers and could literally tell you which fragrances are available on each website. I also see patterns in respect of discount codes so can almost predict which offer will be forthcoming. So when I reflect on my collective behaviours I do think I have a bit of an addiction. My collection is almost complete though in respect of existing fragrances and thereafter I will only buy new fragrances if they are rated highly and receive favourable fragrance reviews. I have also had to tell myself to stop buying back up bottles of discontinued fragrance as there is no way I would even use up one bottle never mind 2 or 3 given my large collection. I suppose the key words are 'everything in moderation'. I do enjoy the fragrance community though and love the videos and discussion topics and that won't ever change.

Bro, you are epic. Lets be real this is a real thing. Much needed. Be careful! much love

The reason I give your channel a lot of attention is because you add another touch to this community I don’t see anywhere else. This video says exactly that. You also talk about fragrances I never heard of instead of the same old ones everyone else talks about. Great content as usual I’m thinning my collection and from now on will only buy what I truly want and will wear. And yes, your video cut off prematurely.

I'll be super honest. It sucks how much money I've dished out to samples/new bottles for my pursuit to find my favorite fragrance. I think you were very accurate when you noted how we may be still relentlessly searching more even after we found something we love. I get a large amount of actual anxiety searching through decant stores seeing all the different fragrances I want to try.

I'm SO glad you've brought this up. You're the first one I've seen even begin to question it or frame it as what it is; addiction. In my case, the pandemic was what spurred me to delve deeper into a longtime curiosity of mine. Ever since, I've been learning so much and a part of me really enjoys finally taking a deeper dive into a topic I've been drawn to since childhood, and yet I can see elements of addiction growing. I’m using it as a form of ‘armchair travel’, as a form of novelty and adventure-seeking, as a form of entertainment, and as a way to use a product like an EXPERIENCE, and not just an object. It’s scratching a lot of itches, and now that I’m on my sample kick phase, I’m being more selective of buying bottles. But these samples will still add up. Content creation of any type may be fueling someone’s addiction, and that’s just something any creator needs to accept. Once you put it out there, it’s not your responsibility what someone does with it. That said, I really like that you’re encouraging people to curate their collections and really think about purchases and not encouraging blind buying. I think that’s the most responsible route to take when doing any consumer-related content. Encourage mindful collection over excessive consumption. Another GREAT video at the perfect time for me! Thanks Justin!

1. Does ones" addiction " hurt the host or anyone else? If it brings enjoyment via aroma therapy or for professional / seductive reasons and it doesnt put your health or pockets in jeapordy then go for it.

Great video and I enjoyed it and have a blessed day

I say buy, sell, give what you don't love anymore perhaps because it also means you're not holding onto anything too tightly cuz we all know, we can't leave with it. Be generous and love what and who you love. :)

I think everyone here stopped looking at fragrances as a utility long time ago, and that's fine imo, just because you have a number of fragrances doesn't mean you should finish them all. It's a hobby, it's about experiencing scents and finding what makes you happy and excited. I think as long as it's not affecting your life in a negative way, you can have as many bottles as you want.

Once again this topic is spot on🎯 I watched enough influencers to know I had an addiction. I once bought 100m, Tom ford grey vetiver and noir extreme cologne for $70 and $85 on a discount site. Once influencers start raving about them, prices skyrocketed and became hard to get. Thee same thing about most other cologne as well

I’ve noticed a lot of reviewers will use their channel as an excuse to justify their addiction as well.

Thank you so much for the video! I just started a little over a month ago and ordered 30 fragrances total already. Trying to quit now. I watch videos all day, read on Reddit, searching the web for good deals. Mostly blind buys. Fortunately I am more into clones now which are a lot cheaper. Say 10 OGs and 20 clones I have been addicted to a lot of things. Alcohol, smoking, weed (which I all quit a long time ago), caffeïne, impulse shopping now (only colognes), eating and prescription drugs. I have suffered from anxiety and depression my whole life, and they are all escapes from my feelings. Also I am an all or nothing kinda person... So I spent about 1300 Euros in one month, which I could spare, but it really is time to move on. I still will get 8 more in the mail this week, yet I can't stop looking for new ones, making wish lists etc. Need to find my strength and face reality!

Bang on ! Real talk ! Thank you ..I only have 15 bottles and I feel like I have a problem ..

My collection has grown to 135 bottles in about a year. Honestly, I love just about every one. I started out heavy but I almost always sampled first. That's really the best way to go. I have a number of decants but I wouldn't say it's too much. When it comes down to it, you just have to have self-control and know your limitations. Thanks for the video.

Great topic and video Justin! I think it certainly can become an addiction like any other. Then I have to question my motivation of why!

Less is more. How can you develop a signature scent when you can't decide which one to wear?

Brother we appreciate this video so much; it was very insightful and eye opening. addiction come in many forms. It's also a reminder to only invest in what brings you joy

This is a very responsible message from justin, also alot of times we over purchase stuff to fill a void that cant ever be filled, find out what that is and resolve that and you’ll be free, we use apps every day that prey on our attention and coax us to purchase things we definitely dont need and maybe didnt even want.

Hey Justin, I totally relate to that. I went through that phase having tons of fragrances. Nowadays I try to keep it under 30 including my oriental oils. I watch recommendations, do research, smell in stores if I can, try on skin if I can, then buy. The only exceptions were Sung Homme and Varvatos vintage were I bought both based on your and other recommendations as well as notes research. Both were hits, more so for Vintage. The other exception was Euphoria Liquid Gold that I got as a gift and that also was a hit. The only perfume that I didn't care for that much was Bvlgari Man, also a gift. I mean what were they thinking, I had Eau De Colognes with more character (4711 included!).

I think a collection of 10 or 15 fragrances is more than enough. Downsizing is the key for a collection based on quality. I do not see the interest of having hundreds or even thousands perfumes that you never wear, just to expose them. I regularly wear my fragrances and I want to limit their number in order to have real signature scents by which my children and my family will recognize me. I prefer to become much more demanding in the choice of my fragrances and opt for quality perfumes rather than buying banal perfumes. I have been passionate about perfumes for more than 20 years and I am reaching a mature stage where my choices are much more reasoned because I know myself much better than before and I know the notes that I like the most in perfumery. I recommend to avoid blind buys, to sample and to test thoroughly before bottle purchase because it is the best way to buy something you really like. Never follow the hype and beware of addictions because they can cost you more than you can imagine. Any hobby must be reasoned otherwise it can ruin you and even ruin your family life. The quest for the grail fragrance will never end. A word to the wise is enough...

Awesome video! Not only does this hobby seem weird from the outside to most folks (I can live with that as it is original, unique and deep) but also very excessive indeed. I have heard that adjective often from my wife especially... Your comments at 2:00 are so true... about buying for very loose reasons at times.

Great forum. Fragrance is a total package that attracts. I consider it an integral part of a grooming effort. Routine and habitation in my opinion is a one to one coupled with the desire for variety fuels purchases. Vanity for me is exclusivity. To be set apart the goal. They can be whoever. I’m definitely me.

I love and admire your honesty. I think it’s true that reviewers are taking advantage of consumers. This addiction is no different from any other addiction. Moderation is key however there are so many RU-vidrs constantly recommending different fragrances regularly. New hobbyists need to use their nose and try to keep their collection below 5. I believe that coworkers and friends/family get used to you wearing one scent and the secret is that, you’re making memories with those people and they will always think of a memory of you if they catch a whiff of something that reminds them of that scent. People can’t do this if you’re wearing a different fragrance everyday of the year. I used to wear Rive Gauche and I honestly regretted blind buying it for a while because the opening gave me a headache but it was a 4 Oz bottle and I stuck with it. Months later, I’m constantly getting compliments from my customers and coworkers about how I always smell so nice and that whatever I’m wearing is definitely my signature scent. Once, I had a younger coworker ask me to never not wear it. Unfortunately Rive is discontinued and people are trying to sell used bottles for ridiculous prices. However, I have acquired other fragrances since then and I always make sure I wear one specific one regularly for work. It makes a difference in how people perceive you. Maybe if you wear too many fragrances in a week, you can come off as insecure or desperate.

The Fragrance Addict...wait is that the name of a new RU-vid channel😂 After your previous video I had to ask myself why, with over 100 fragrances in my collection, I have a "wish list" for 60 more? I have enough difficulty as it is deciding what fragrance to wear. Yes...I love fragrances. Why do I love fragrances? I like the feeling I get when I smell an awesome fragrance. I like the way smelling good makes me feel about myself...a confidence boost if you will. I like the compliments and positive attention of others. Therefore, I would not say that the reviewer is responsible in any way or preying upon those of us who collect fragrances any more than reviewers of automotive content are to car collectors. Thank you for these thought provoking videos so that we can continue to enjoy this hobby as fragrance collectors rather than fragrance hoarders.

The key is to not go with what's popular, but to be educated through these reviews and your own personal fragrances that make you feel above and beyond the norm, the ones that lift your spirits, make you feel amazing successful and as if you can accomplish anything, the ones that add a touch of Swagger to your day not because it's popular and everyone else wears it, as I tried to reach for fragrances that no one else has and it's amazing when you walk into a room or anywhere for that matter and people are blown away, tossing you compliments left and right on how amazing you smell and they have to know what it is as I have literally been chased down and places with people going out of their way to find out who's wearing the fragrance, and engaging and more than a basic conversation over that fragrance! As I have met some very interesting people, just from the attraction of my fragrance alone! The point is you need to stand out and the crowd and not smell like three or four or a dozen other people in your surroundings, but to be unique and stand on your own with a statement made that is undeniable, where people will remember you not just for your personality and vibey bring, but the fragrance you wear along with this situation you're wearing it in! As fragrance will not just moments in your life with memories, but those you come into contact with as well! As I recently went into a store we're a female who used to work at another store was there, two coworkers around her had stated damn do you smell that? Somebody in here smells so damn sexy, she seen me and off the top guest that it was me, from her experience at the previous job where I came in all the time, as we stood for about 20 minutes discussing fragrances, and I shared a number of RU-vid channels come with yours included, they go check out for Reliable and on point fragments analysis! But the overall secret to fragrance, is to wear exclusively what you love no matter what the opinions are outside of that! As it's all about what makes you feel good and uplift your spirits and motivates you to be all you're capable of being and smell fantastic while doing so!

btw, those "deep from the heart" videos are truly awesome! Thanks! Love the philosophical and psychological depth and authenticity.

I can relate very much. For me, even when I think I’ve found the ‘perfect’ fragrance, I start to wonder, is there an even better fragrance out there that I’m yet to discover. I’m not like that with anything else, just fragrances. I mostly buy samples, so financially I’m okay.

I came to a point where I'm pretty much happy with my collection and I feel I have everything I need. I came to the point where I simply lost interest in fragrance videos unless it's a new release from a house I like .

Justin I think I’m in that situation you mentioned! First I bought fragrances due to the price and what I mean is cheap fragrances. But now things are getting different! Now I think I should buy a fragrance if the scent fits my personality! This time I feel niche fragrances fits much more to my personality than in the past.But sometimes I really feel overwhelmed and now I’m going to handle it differently! I buy stuff if I assume that I really would enjoy the fragrance otherwise I feel not comfortable!! But thanks for your thoughts on this!! It is a certain that we have to be careful with this hobby!! Keep going mate!! 💪🏽👌🏽👍🏽🙌🏽

J Cope! I love the topic, have thought about this for a few years now. This fragrance game is definitely a rabbit hole. Nice t shirt btw

Man I was just thinking the same thing my man.Great topic will look more in to what your saying💯💯

I've fought the urge to go on a fragrance buying rampage. I only own 20, because I want to finish all of them, but I've identified over 170 I'd like to purchase. Because I like an "old school" scent profile, many of those not-yet-purchased fragrances have been discontinued so many will be blind buys. When I got started, I was purchasing a cross-section so by trial and error I've honed in on what I like and just as importantly what i don't. Friends have been the benefactors of my purchase mistakes....LOL. The message of this vid is well taken. It can be an addictive hobby. You read the Fragrantica reviews and it's OMG I've got to have that. I suspect my frag count will grow, but it will never be huge.

This is the realist video I’ve watched in this community… I appreciate your truth and honesty in this matter… I’ve stopped watching so many reviewers as of lately to keep from the desire to spend on what’s new… to top it off, the collecting of guns, knives, ammo and food storage with all that’s happening in the World only keep consumers forever spending..

I appreciate when you make such content, I recommend when possible to post videos with these topics whenever you can.

Great content mate, glad I found you 👍🏻

Great vid Justin! Thanks for the reminder. I will admit when I 1st started collecting I started buying fragrances just because someone recommend them or would blind buy. I learned real quick I was wasting money on fragrances I really didn't enjoy or that I would wear once or twice a year. I have sold and given away many fragrances to family and friends as my collection has dwindled to 21 fragrances total. I rather have a small collection but enjoy what I have and actually wear them.

I can really relate to this. Over the past few years, I’ve amassed way too many fragrances, and now I’ve started editing down. One thing I’ve been doing is wear one fragrance a day, and a different fragrance every day until I’ve gotten through all of them. I’m finding that there are some fragrances that I just don’t want to wear and it makes it obvious that they should go in the to-go stack. Also, I have backup bottles for some of my faves but I’ve realized that I might never get to that backup bottles and by the time I do, I might want a different fragrance to replace that one. I have about 140 bottles and so far 40 are in the to-go pile. I would really like to get it to a 20 to 30 bottle collection. Which still is alot but I can manage that.

I'm new to fragrances, I caught the "bug" after testing some at a department store and really liking all the different types, I've spent a ton of free time watching videos, reading reviews, discovery, etc. However, I've been very careful about committing to a full bottle of anything. I try to sample everything in person I can, and buying decants of ones if I can't or want to try it more. I think one thing that's really important to keep in your head, especially if you're new to fragrances, is that the online fragrance community represents a tiny bit of people who purchase and wear fragrance. The average buyer just wants to smell good, appealing, etc. The kind of person who enjoys fragrances enough not just enough to buy and wear, but to actively go online to discuss and create content about is a fraction of the general buying public. These people have gone past that stage of just wanting to smell good and appealing and honestly crave neweness and novelty much much more than the average newbie would. Like use Dior Homme as an example, great fragrance for sure, and the fragrance community (outside of the squabbles of reformulation talk, etc) absolutely love it, and talk about it as a complete no brainer, blind purchase, you gotta own it. In reality though, it's a very unique fragrance (hence why they love it) and honestly could be off putting to a lot of people, and is IMO a dangerous blind buy. Don't blind buy, smell, get decants, etc. Don't lose $100+ and get burned out. I'm trying to stay under 10 full bottles (I'm at 3 now..) and I'm at the "exploration" stage I feel. Also it's important to categorize fragrances, and understand when you will wear them. Like for example, a date night fragrance. There are hundreds of date night fragrances, and they all smell unique in some way, but to me having more than one (or two at most really) seems rather redundant. I think this is critical because the truth is, there are very few fragrances I immediately go "Wow that's bad!" I genuinely really like 95% of them, but of course owning every fragrance I like isn't really that viable or even worthwhile. I'd just rather pick the one I like the best, even if that means buying a decant and trying them for a short period. Remember, even if you're a 5 sprayer, with a day and night fragrance you're probably only going to use at most 400ML a year, and that's probably a high estimate. Keep that context when you're looking at that collection of 30-40 fragrances how long it would take you if you completely stopped buying to actually go through it all.

Nice topic. I actually started my love for fragrances from the site Basenotes and reviews from youtube actually opened my eyes for the love of them and guys like yourself inspired me to create my own channel. So in short I can see how some do prey on others, but good honest reviewers like yourself can inspire many in different ways... keep up the good work bro.

Hi Justin, My old boss got me into Fragrances, he was a Politician. He always said that as a Professional I should always smell good and wear good Clothes, that it is part of making a great first impression and thereafter. I'm addicted to Fragrances, good clothes, and Watches. I currently use fragrances as Aromatherapy and as previously described, I currently have 23 fragrances in my collection and I'm seeking to have more. Greetings from Veracruz, Mexico.

Wow this video backs up the 1st video from a week ago so well. You do up load quite a bit of reviews quite understandably, but we the viewers do get caught up too. I've always loved fragrances but I really took off when I started to watch a lot of RU-vid reviews starting with the famous Jeremy Fragrance. I eventually got into a lot of niche so much that designer fragrances stunk. That was a big mistake... because I have gone back to designers that I love and makes an impression. Thanks for this video bro 🙏

I have exactly 50 fragrances and only 2 moods. (Tired and really tired from working so damn much). And when I’m not working-I am fishing. Need I say more? Seems like my collection is more about “collecting” instead of “wearing”. I’ve been struggling with pumping the brakes. Good video JC.

Lots of companies seek to make us addicted with candy/junk food, television, Facebook, fashion, booze, cigarettes, and the list goes on. Having the discipline in this kind world is tough but something we all need to learn to survive.

Yes definitely a great conversation to have and to be mindful and aware. And love that you're even bringing it up because a lot of people may buy too much and not think it's a problem, when it really is.

Yup! I have 377 full bottle of perfume right now. That's not counting back-up. I used to sell them kind of like scent bird. I came to realization that I'm not charging enough considering all of my fragrance are niche. I did stop buying fragrance during quarantine and realize that I need to slow down when I cleaned my second bedroom and realize how much I gotten. When I start selling them I wasn't even watching RU-vid I just truly gotten loads of compliments from co-workers from department store where I sell brand name fragrance. I quit that job to sell my own and let just say my income tripple. Now I sell them as a hobby.

Yeah I had a moment of buying 20 fragrances in a month span. I hope that I caught it early and stop. I was looking at my new "collection" and was just like "I survived without a collection for years and still had success, why do I feel I need it now?" I like to smell good but the amount of money I splurged. It may have to do with my recent break up and i've just been buying (i've been buying clothes and shoes too). I def need to refocus and reevaluate myself.

Anything in over-abundance is a bad thing... I just asked my fiancee about my collection early and she said "well aint least it wont get arrested"... but in truth, there are still consequences for having an issue beyond legal... health, mental health, financial, relational issues, etc. Awareness is definitely a must.

Great to see this important issue being addressed again. Personally, a part of me likes to use the following logic: 1) I'm a young dude, with (hopefully) many years ahead of me to wear fragrances; and 2) Discontinuations/reformulations are constantly happening, stock is drying up faster than ever, the world is changing and prices are always going up. Sounds like FOMO logic, but it does kind of makes sense. Who knows what the world will look like in 10 years, but my guess is...'different'. Stuff is temporary so we might as well enjoy it while we can. Nonetheless, the key barometer for me is my level of attachment. If I can let go without a subconscious flinch, then I'm good. Using the gastrointestinal system as an analogy, there's an end where things go in, and another where things come out. The middle ground is where the goodness happens; but if there's a blockage or absorption issues, a continuous influx could lead to burdensome feelings and potential illness. Where does the enthusiasm come from? The desire? Is it a need and why? All important questions, and I'm certainly glad that there are forums where they can still be addressed. Never a bad time to examine what's happening in our minds.

Great video Justin. I think about this a lot. I bought BDC parfum “it was my first ever fragrance purchase last year” and had crazy buyers remorse and that’s when I realized I can’t fall down the rabbit hole. I gotta stay disciplined.

As someone who's just getting into fragrances, I watch a lot of videos like yours and others, and when I decide I might like a frag that's in a list video I seek out detailed reviews of it and read up on the notes. I'm fortunate to have a good imagination to approximate what certain notes will smell like, and I have an idea of what notes I will enjoy. I've never gotten a fragrance without researching and thinking on it, and I've never gotten one outside my budget, even if almost all my stuff is relatively inexpensive. Every bottle I have has a purpose,and it's thanks to review channels like yours I have made informed decisions and not gotten anything I regret. So, as a newbie just trying to smell better than my shower gel on a daily basis, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Great topic, it’s a topic that should be discussed more often because a lot of us do struggle with perfume addiction. Self control is at the root of overcoming the addiction but it’s easier said than done. We should probably try and fix what led us down this rabbit hole, for me, it was going through a divorce and having my kids going to live with my ex! If we be honest , most, not all, will have a similar story.

Thank you Justin for keeping it real. I had stopped wearing fragrances for quit a few years other than special occasions when i remembered too. I think what stalled me was the performance was not the best with the fragrance I might wear from time to time for none special occasions and when it ran low I stopped wearing it all together and made it a special occasion fragrance. The fragrance I'm talking about was a gift called BHCP Classic in the blue glass bottle with the metal cap. Some days I would just give it a sniff because it just smelled so good to me years after I received it. I decided to purchase it for myself but could not find it anywhere. That inspired me to learn more about fragrances and wonder why I waited so long to do so. That started my journey down the fragrance rabbit hole. I believed everything each reviewer said and started blind buying fragrances based on that. I ended up with a few hundred bottles, some collections, most on the low to mid-price range (thank goodness); buying so often I wasn't able to wear the ones I'd previously purchased and treated all of them like special occasion fragrances. Now I have a few hundred bottles I need to sort through to determine which ones I love and those that are ok. All is not for lost during this journey. When this is all said and done I'll have near 100 fragrances I love with a back up or two. Still, way to many for the average man like myself. but I'll never be able to complain about not smelling my best ever again. There is still one Guerlain fragrance I've fallen in love with that is eluding me do to price and scarcity. I know this because I have the flanker and reformulated version. Sometime during 2022 I'm sure I'll acquire it at the right price for me. The remainder of my collect I'll try to sell some, donate some, and give some away to friends and strangers to enjoy after a goodbye spray. The biggest pitfalls for me other than collection volume is understanding that discontinued scarcity does not mean a fragrance smells good enough on you that you need to have it. Some fragrances are just for collecting now. I'm now wearing what I have based on how I want to smell for that occasion regardless of season. Now I'm only interested in unique fragrance DNAs that no longer exit and Holygrail fragrances I like that expands my collections fragrance profile. Some profiles just do not work for me (mass appealing or not). Since I've come across a lot of similar fragrances in different price categories from different houses, I approach fragrances by house now, buy purchase samples first, instead of blind buying, to see if the DNA is unique enough to warrant a full bottle purchase. Something you have been preaching since the very beginning.

You have a new subscriber bro. Excellent video. Props to you for being so honest and open about this subject.

We appreciate you. Theres a thin line between collecting and hoarding.

Hey bro Justin, great video again and I really like your honesty and because of that most of my friends here in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 I share your video with really enjoy it and have a wonderful weekend peace buddy

Goo point. I have stop buying so much. But I did get 2 this Month. But it easy and safe addition. Just have to watch how much we Spend. And we have great Gifts for peop in our Family. Great Topic. We need more. Stay Fresh Bro.

Agree. I felt overwhelmed even with 5 bottles. I really only need 2, one for the daytime at work and one for the night when I go out which is not much right now because of pandemic. So the day bottle last 6-8 months, the night one, even 1-2 years. I sold what I can sold and decided to only buy a new one when one is empty. This way it seems a healthier approach for me personally.

hey Justin, i really appreciate you 'risking it' putting out this video, i think assessing personal behavior and recognizing when it becomes abusive is important, I'm up to 13 fragrances and when I'm influenced by a video I find myself looking at all these bottles and finding it ridiculous that i could possibly want more.... there are worse things we could do than smell good.... there are few things worse than ppl that screw up personal hygiene