Fragrance Buying Mistakes You Should AVOID 

I’m new to the world of fragrance, and I love your channel! (I also love to take fashion inspo from you). It seems like you have mannnnnny fragrances. How many do you wear in one day? Do you ever go a day without wearing a fragrance? How many fragrances out there do you feel like are really “you”?

Speaking for myself here: do not buy just because you don’t wanna “offend” the salesperson, or because you like the salesperson or because you feel guilty leaving without buying something after trying a trillion perfumes…

My biggest mistake is calling my addiction to Fragrances a "journey"

Buy to layer is the biggest scam! You are so brave!!!

To me the biggest fragrance buying mistake is to start a "collection". If you own 3, or lets say 5 fragrances and you want to buy another you should ask yourself *why* . Is there anything wrong with the ones you have? Just wear them.... I wish someone would have told me that. Once you are in your addiction all the points you mention are very true

My biggest mistake is buying a bunch of things that smell similar or can serve the same purpose. I have a 'type' when it comes to fragrances, but after a while I started noticing that so many of my fragrances gave a similar vibe. For example, I owned both Mancera Roses Vanille and Carthusia Terra Mia. I simply didn't need both.

Your advise is spot on! I’ve made all of these mistakes! I’ve also fallen down the limited edition/discontinued rabbit hole. I often have to remind myself that I don’t have to possess all the fragrances.

Biggest mistakes were blind buying during Covid. I knew better but it was so hard to smell things and there were great sales then! Happy to see you back Sam.

Olfaction certainly is a personal experience! I might advise trusting no one and nothing except your own nose multiplied by time and self-awareness. Those last two are crucial since some of the greatest obstacles to finding a fragrance pleasant, safe or attractive are unfamiliarity and subconscious associations. Time and self-awareness can be potent remedies respectively.

The biggest lesson i learned is never listen to influencers, i sample every fragrance and buy only the ones that really speak to me. There's no point in having a collection when 90% of the bottles will be redundant.

Thank you for the tips, i think a lot of fragrances are overpriced. I love all my scents, if they a designer, celebrity, or a niche parfume. Important for me is, that i love them.😊

Thank you Sam for this sensible video :) . My first mistake was to think that having loved the infamous Baccarat Rouge at first sniff, I could blind buy the not-less-famous Delina ... sold my 15ml on Vinted the same day I received it because I hated it. Also I'm not a sweet perfume nore a vanilla aficionada ... and I stupidly kept on buying these gourmands and vanilla based samples, even blind bought 2 cheapies, and a niche perfume of this genre I had only briefly smelled once (never wear it now!), simply because these accords are SO HYPED and I was probably guilty of not trusting my own taste enough. It's changing though :).Many fragrance influencers from RU-vid (not you) can make naïve viewers forget how cool it is that everybody has different tastes ;)

Mine is getting rid of a fragrance I used to love because I had a bad stretch with it, or got tired of it. Always a major regret!

Such a great video! When I first started my fragrance journey I wish I could go back to that person and yell at them: "BUY THE SMALLER BOTTLE!"

Great points. This is more for those that already have both feet firmly planted in this space: get out of your comfort zone. Both citrus and vanilla forward fragrances don't agree with my tastes but I would have missed out on some great scents if that guided my exploration completely. Also, the - don't follow popularity advice also goes for the more niche and indie side. Albeit in a way. I really admire Andy Tauer as a creative but I've realised that, at least most of, his fragrances are not for me. And that's ok.

Yes! Also trying the sample or fragrance in particular with different temperatures may help.

Great advise. What really opened my eyes were when I let my friends grab perfumes from my collection and gave me the test strips blind. I couldn’t tell which one was more expensive one and which one was more affortable one!!!! That really helped me avoid buying similar fragrances/buying expensive perfumes thinking it is a *better* fragrance.

This was just Awesome, Sam! Almost every point you made was something that has crossed my mind. I'm over here fighting addiction at the moment, trying not to let it take over my life! 🥴 Some days I succeed, some days I don't. One thing I've never been bamboozled by, however, is those one-note molecular fragrances that cost just as much as the ones with 12 ingredients. I call them the Emperor's New Clothes perfumes, because half of the population can't even smell them! And what artistry did they require?? Zippo. Not interested.

Excellent points! Thanks, Sam! 👍👏🎊

YES x 7! Looking forward to your video on alternate uses for excess ISO e Super.

I have more decants than bottles at the moment 😂 But im happy ... i will not buy a FB if i can't test it first😊

This is so helpful for newbies in fragrance world! 👍 thanks Sam 🌹 I learned all of this hard way some years ago 😂😂 I wish, someone would have done such video then 😆

So happy to see you back!

I would say I almost made the mistake of not getting a perfume that I thought was horrible the first time. I decided to buy a decent of Poison and the more time I spent with it, I really began to love it. Great video! ❤️

Great recommendations thanks 👍🏽

Biggest mistake is trying to make something work that just doesn’t for my nose in fragrances. Like heavy fruity fragrances. They always wind up smelling like candles or car scents. This discovery also led me to stop blind buying. Also, if I love something and there’s a travel size or opportunity to purchase a decant, that’s my route these days

Truer words have never been spoken 🙌🏻 I was guilty of some of these but now I try to follow these rules too. Last year I bought a perfume that wasn't available as a sample and I absolutely hated it. This is the last blind buy I'll ever make. Also since I love sandalwood I remember absolutely loving Milky Musk when I first tried it but after wearing it for a whole day it became so cloying it was almost making me sick. Its really hard but I'm trying to consider each purchase really slowly now :)

Yes you are so right! I have done all and experience exactly what you said. I am older and wiser so I buy decants first and then if the hype to me is real or I like it I buy FB. There are plenty fragrance not hyped that I love. Thank you Samantha. Excellent video

Thanks Sam...great advise. Guilty!!! I used to blind buy full bottles, now I've weaned myself to blind buying samples. Then there's the pros and cons judging fragrances off of a "sample"...lol. Hadn't seen ya in a while.

I completely agree with you about layering

Excellent tips ⭐️ I would add buying a cheapie, “hidden gem” or discontinued frag. I seem to have a big box of these now I need to unload. This hobby is fun and fascinating, but it deeply triggers FOMO in me 😳👎🏻

Buying 2 perfume to layer hit home. Needed video. Thank you

Honestly I just want to find a store that allows me to spray and sample to my hearts desire, just ignore me until Im either ready to buy or have a question. That way I can save by not spending money on 1.5ml-2ml samples that are now around $7-8 a vial because most of us are avoiding stores due to pushy obnoxious sales people, also the reason why many people blind buy if they dont have access to decants of certain products. I rarely blind buy, my regrets are 2 FBs I bought last year or so based on 10 min spray and now Im trying to figure out how to sell them but then you have to worry about frauds doing chargebacks..exhausting. never making that mistake again. decant or nothing.

You're such a refreshment Sam! thank you a million x ♥️

I agree with blind buying, I just purchased a Delina sample to test it out on my skin...and let me tell you I am glad i did. Although it is nice it's definitely not for me, I am not a rose/floral fan. It's been on my skin for about 3 hrs , maybe after a few more it may change but not my jam.

I agree Sam! Thanks for the straight talk! 💛

Love this video!!👍🏽

Thank you for these reminders, but also for a few tips I will carry with me in the future. I've definitely realized that hyped perfumes aren't always for me. I definitely know more what I'm looking for. I need to sample more! Definitely, testing on skin and only 2 fragrances is a good option. I've done it a few times and it's much easier to really get a sense of what each fragrance smells like.

I don’t layer perfumes I’ve always thought that was a little redundant myself. I agree you should love the fragrance you bought and not have to use another fragrance to change it so you will like it more or last longer. I also don’t believe in blind buying. Great video Sam ❤

Hi Sam! Love your videos! ❤❤❤

Everything about this is spot on right!!!

I had to watch this video 2 times because you are so honest. Much Love ❤️ Great Video 💯

Great video! Thank you!

Fully agree with all these points Sam, very well said!

You are a very wise person🤗

Good morning to all. I learned about evaluating a like or not, by allowing time to really understand it. Before I decide to buy Amouage Guidance, for instance, I sprayed over days, different hours of the day and different moods. I finally decided I really like it but for now, for my own self-care, it can wait until I find a better price . I have decant to accompany me for now. That is the other aspect of this hobby of ours: buying can wait. It is okay. They will not disappear. Hola Sam!

I bought l'interdit EDT after 5 minutes 😂 I thought that I could use it to get marry. I was so wrong. I can't stand it. Thanks for the video. I'll try to learn. All my boughts have been blind. We risk too much.

I love this direction of your videos this year. The evolution of Sam. Which is basically ALL of us. 😊

Love this video! It is so hard to resist the influencer raving over popular fragrances. I have a rule that I won't blind buy TikTok influencer favs. But...will I blind buy Guerlain and Serge Lutens? 😂 Yes. The thing that has helped me most is not buying into hype. It's helped me avoid things like layering, blind buys, etc.

My take: #1 Samples and discovery sets hyped can add up to a heck of a lot in a very short time. Blind buying samples or full bottles depends on just one thing, your disposable income, period. If you are a multi-millionaire or actually in the perfume business like The Perfume Guy and you can write off the purchase as business expense, by all means blind buy. #2 Don't buy for emotional reasons like a charity sale or any good cause such as "supporting a small brand" yada yada to justify over spending on a blind buy because its just mental bs in the long run, again, unless you are wealthy enough to write it off as charitable donation or some such. #3 Be careful overspending on natural perfumers who use genuine exotic ingredients of limited quantities at super high prices hyping FOMO because in time, there will always be other bottles with comparable quality somewhere. This is my personal weakness. #4 I try to gauge a dry down by smelling the cap. If I like it, it's worth a sample on skin, if not, chances are its not worth testing further unless you can get a free sample. #5 My internal debate - are subscription boxes of samples worth it? Probably not.

You're on point as always

TRUE! TRUE! and 7 times TRUE! So many points are so very true, especially: 'do not buy before you try' or 'do not blind buy'. I only buy samples or take samples home to 'feel it', I jump away from eager sales people in any store that try to spray me with fragrance. Some perfumes feel to me like an ENTITY which, if I wear, will become part of me, and no offence I do not feel like inviting into my Aura just any scent. Some perfumes that I tested caused me to develop a headache, and others were stuck in my nose, not in a good way. I am one of those people that only uses one scent until it's discontinued or I get tired of it after a few years. As a matter of fact, I came across your channel while researching Creed, I got a sample of Aventus and when I tested it on paper, it really became an ENTITY with a very strong presence in the room, I liked its presence but I don't think I could wear it to be part of me. Unfortunately the sample did not indicate which Aventus it is, so I am looking into it further. I am on a hunt for my new 'me' scent. THANK YOU!

This advice was needed 2 weeks ago, but thanks.

Hi Sam, thanks for the great video as always. my biggest mistake is buying blindly perfumes that my favorite RU-vidrs love, i was inspired even by your chancel Mandala, Love kills and other perfumes were bought because you are one of my fave and were awful on me, i loved ray flection and Lost Alice because this is my personal style. My only regret is blond buying....❤

Yes you are telling so many truths here. I was never on the "hype train" but so many reviews kept popping up, sometimes about the same fragrance, that was an immediate no for me. Molecule 01 I really like but get what you're saying. Just going to enjoy what I have.

Great video. The only fragrance that I spent a lot of $ for is Deep N Desire Yacht by EBK because it’s my absolute favorite! 💙, … and every fragrance I own I adore. No blind buys! I’ve done it before and two times I was extremely disappointed.

A lot of high end brands draw inspiration from timeless classics. I can think of Amouage that has borrowed heavily from Opium, Aromatics Elixir, Estee Lauder Private Collection, Mitsouko, Poison. Even their lauded Gold woman is not miles away from currrent Calèche composed by the same perfumer.

Finally! Someone said it! Layering is such a crazy idea!

This was fantastic also what is your lip colour please?

I needed this talkin’ to.

What wonderful tips! I have just started to wise up on a few of them myself. What if you discovered that one of your favorites is about to be discontinued? What mistakes might people make when they discover this? What would you do/recommend?

👏👏👏 I never understood layering, I get it, and I know many ppl that do it, and do it pretty well, although I really suck at it, but not a fan, if a fragrance just doesn't hit the spot is indeed not for me. Other thing that really pisses me off is what you said, luxury brands cloning other fragrances, even cheaper ones, it's easy to sell a sinhy bottle with a luxury price tag

I often buy blind for very specific notes like Iris, Violet, Rose, Saffron, Vetiver, Amber, Oud, Encens note Aquatic Notes I always love these notes in a perfume I blind buy Crystal Saffron, i also blind buy Sorisso, i also blind buy MFK oud Silk mood and i also blind buy Encre noire à l'extreme by lalique because i love it 😊😊😊

Great tips❤ i Discover That A sample can also smell different from A bigger bottle+ Some fragrance need to settle and can change in different temperture/ and your own mood. In my case the last senario can go from great first buy in to A mistake🤨

Buying a fragrance on sale, before checking the age of said fragrance. If it's expensive, you want to wear it for a while without stressing about it turning.

You’re so right - it takes me a few wears to decide if a perfume is FB worthy.

Quit watching fragrance influencers,I found this works the best. Just being honest.

Definitely fell for buying something that's popular or something an influencer loved. In my country it's hard to get full bottles of perfume widely available, so during COVID I fell hard for buying samples. Most based on recommendations and hype. I'm glad i expanded my nose anf got to know new scents, but I definitely developed an addiction especially since the place I bought from had free delivery. Currently on a use what I have journey and for the fragrances i didn't love, i sometimes wear to bed. Ugghhh so sad for the samples I bought that gave me headaches 😢

Yesterday I was going to blind buy xerjoff alexandria ii based upon reviewer, but Decided to look at more videos since I had some doubts. Found you hate/love video and the this one. Not going to blind buy. I remember now the perfume I like and use the most are the one I bough based after trying bunch of sample ordered online.

can you share what cheap fragrances you know have been cloned by higher end brands? I know of Casmir (ylang in gold) and tocade (woman in gold a bit), Lalique Amethist (meliora)

These are all facts. I see it all of the time in the fragrance community.

More people should be subscribed to this channel

Amazing list. I’m totally guilty of buying after 5 minutes - at least couple of times 🙈

Ok I do not have any single molecule perfume but I have never thought about the production cost.... eye opening 😶

Blind buying is a risk. It’s not supposed to work 100% of the time, and that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a bad practice. Just don’t get your hopes too high up when doing it, and leave room to be let down, and then you’ll either not find it worth doing or you’ll be way less upset the next time it doesn’t work out. But that moment it does work out and you blind buy with little expectation & it turns out to blow your mind, makes it worth it. Just do it carefully & tactfully, and to save yourself from the grief just don’t set the expectation too high

❤❤❤here i am...and there you are. ❤❤❤❤❤ i have wasted lots of money blind buying....❤❤❤❤❤❤

Heck, if I didn't blind by, I'd miss out on so many great fragrances -- especially those from Middle Eastern houses, many of which can't be sampled. If you know what you're doing, and take in a good cross section of reviews (e.g., RU-vid, Fragrantica, Basenotes, etc.), blind buying can work out just fine.

No lies detected!!

An important thing for me is that you wear fragrances to smell good and that there are very few fragrances which are actually bad. Some of them may not work well for you but they'd still smell good otherwise. Another is a corollary to the clone remark you made. Clones may be 'evil' to some folks but to me, they prove that an over-the-top niche brand is basically ripping people off. If you can get about 80 percent of the same scent for about 1/10th (or even less) of the price and you still mock someone less financially privileged than you for wearing a clone then it is a damning indictment about your person... and more.

Expert thoughts, she tells no lies in this video… A lot of fragrances I bought from a few years ago was from your recommendations, a lot has changed with you since then it seems towards the higher end stuff.

I have learned my lesson blind buying and I have a bunch of bottles that haven't sold yet! These are great ideas! (I think your video is out of focus?) oxJulia

I bought a ton of ‘good’ smelling cheapies. Used them about one or two times, sold the lot (managed to just about break even). I would also ignore hype and have a drawn out sampling system. Or just buy decants over full bottles.

Great video. My biggest mistake #1 Blind buying.

Lately I have ordered a lot of discovery sets but I wasn’t trilled with most of them. Mostly I was surprised because I hear so many people raving but they were either ok/ not mind blowing. How do you pick which discovery set you would like to order? are you influenced by the story of the brand, the notes? any advice would be greatly appreciated

My biggest mistake was going down a rabbit hole and buying too many fragrances! Wondering what you think of Dossier fragrances? Also do you still use the perfume service that is now called Parfory? Curious your thoughts on both.

The fragrances I have are the ones I tried several times on testers. The French fragrances I have are the best like Chanel, YSL, Givenchy and Karl Lagerfield. I tried these ones several times over a period of time before purchasing them. I’ve found some other cheaper brands that smell good. True, some high end brands don’t appeal to me.

My best fragrance discovery this year is one that cost only 39$ cad (:

Sam it's so good to see you beautiful ❤❤❤❤❤❤

Also, yes, Fragrance is a relation, it may or may not bloom immediately for you. NARCOTIC Venus took years before I finally was able to hone in on what made it beautiful.

I enjoy blind buying it's exciting and if I don't like it it's no problem for me to resell I've actually made money reselling especially when I had valatino v

what are your thoughts about dupes?

1000th 👍!

I was just thinking... do you remember the times when you couldn't listen to an (music) album before buying it (you were just hoping your favourite band would not suck all of a sudden) So much more adventurous

Is “not a perfume ‘ by Juliet has a gun an example of a one molecule non perfume?

This video came at such a good time 😂

Just blind bought one perfume two days and received it today, with huge regret!!!

Blind buying is definitely the biggest one and I believe samples is a good way if weaning yourself:)

These are all spot on! Albeit I should be a fragrance connoisseur by now, I fell into the buy too fast trick a couple of days ago. Luckily I was still around the store when I realized that the perfume dry down was way off than its opening and exchanged it. Another common mistake: buying from dept stores without checking online prices - waaaaay cheaper as long as it's a trusted website!

Biggest error: the feeling of immediate need to buy and #2 //the almost unbelievable amount of decant and samples one can accumulate and even forget one has them. I am more Present now, at least a little more.

I hate layering. However, blind buys were my best shots 😂