I Need SOMEBODY to Tell Me Why THIS Keeps Happening. 

Here are the questions on which I'd love for you to weigh in! Answer as much or as little as you prefer: ⚠️ FOR CLARITY: I am in no way endorsed or sponsored by Cartier nor Hermès! But for as much as I hype them, I wish I was! 😝 1. Even if you are well-familiar with the NAME of a brand, do you still avoid it if few to no people online are recommending their fragrances? 2. Based on what you've seen and heard (feedback of others), what makes you more likely to try a brand like Xerjoff over one like Cartier? 3. If you saw a greater amount of attention on RU-vid for lesser-discussed brands like Hermès and Cartier, do you believe you might be more apt to try them? 4. Does fragrance popularity come as a result of a REVIEWER creating hype for something undiscovered, or does the AUDIENCE determine their overall interest in certain brands/fragrances, ultimately dictating what the creator should make content about? Or perhaps BOTH? For the Independents: What do you think it would take for you to try these well-known yet lesser-discussed brands?

Cartier, Hermes, Serge Lutens, and even Guerlain are super underrated.

There’s a huge misconception in the community that niche is always better. This would explain why niche brands draw in more viewership and interactions. Oddly, they’re sleeping on the well esteemed and respected designer houses that not only have great fragrances, but highly sought after blends. Personally, I’d happily watch a Guerlain video over most of these niche ones. Follow the scent, not the name.

I think it’s simple..Designer fragrances are easier for a majority of people to access because they are at regular department stores like Macy’s..If I want to test a bunch of Cartier samples I can go do that any day FOR FREE..Niche fragrances aren’t as accessible, everyone doesn’t have a Saks or Neiman’s near by so they rely on reviews to gauge what fragrances they should blind buy or purchase samples for..Basically more research is needed for niche fragrances

Here is my experience : I now know to stay away from creed because everything was reformulated to be weaker and won't last 6 hours. Now I know not all Tom Ford fragrances are worth the price. Now I know just a few Montale are different, the rest is redundant. Now I know Acqua Di Parma smell quality but last a couple of hours. Now I know not all Arab dupes are amazing. Now I know current top designer fragrances smell the same. Now I know which reviewers I trust almost 100% and some I just watch just for entertainment.

I forgot to mention that unlike niche brands like Creed, Xerjoff, or Nishane, whose only products are fragrances, designer houses like Hermès or Cartier have other seriously high-end products to offer their customers, so not to sound dismissive, but they really don't need to have people talking about their fragrances as desperately. Hermès makes some of the most sought-after clothing, shoes, and leathergoods, and people are willing to wait months for their bags. Cartier are jewelers to royalty and the super rich. In short: they're sort of above the fray.

I personally only use what influencers have to say about fragrances as a point of reference to help me get a better understanding of what a fragrance I'm unfamiliar with may generally smell like and how it performs. Especially the Influencers that I have been watching for a long time and know that they have similar taste to mine. Usually, depending on what they describe the smell of a certain fragrance to be like, I either want to smell it at some point if it sounds appealing to my taste or put it way on the back burner if most reviews I've seen say it's just not good. Of course at the end of the day I make my own assessments on every frag I smell and decide if its something I want to acquire or not.

One other thing. When someone hears about a sexy or classy but expensive fragrance like a Xerjoff or a Creed, they will require a huge dose of confirmation before pulling the trigger. While some of these are truly nice, Hermes, and Cartier are equally lovely works of art, but given their price, people are willing to try them out (maybe with a small bottle) without having to get encouraged 20 times by a reviewer. This is a guess only.

I bought a hermanessence (Hermes) fragrance at the duty free in Rome yesterday. It was the first time I've seen or even heard of the Hermes private line. I now own one each of both the Hermes and Cartier (Les Voyages) private lines and have never met a single other person in real life that has heard of either one.

My profession is analyst, so I use you guys as my sources of information. Several criteria factor into this: the reviewer style, conviction, credibility, and reliability. Then it's down to my level of interest, the vibe I'm looking for in a fragrance, the scale of 'need' (let's be honest - want), and the balance those things have with the financial aspect. So from that perspective, reviewers (like you in particular) have a strong weighting on what direction I take or consider taking. But this is following my evaluation of the above criteria. You guys are our tour guides, but it's always good to see fellow tourists sharing their thoughts and recommendations. With all of these things overlapping, they lead us to discovery and as far as I can see, that's what this hobby/interest is all about. I simply can't afford to delve into Xerjoff, PDM etc unless I was to spot a great deal (hasn't happened yet). Instead I have purchased Alexandria or other well regarded clones. I do however have Guerlain, Hermes, Lalique, Caron, Brioni because the fragrances have intrigued me after hearing reviewer descriptions on YT, Fragrantica, Reddit etc. I'm prone to pick something up if it ticks the boxes I need ticked. I rarely sample due to the affordability I adhere to, but do sample now and again when it feels necessary. I normally buy at good prices and where I identify an opportunity to sell if I don't like for minimal loss or sometimes even profit. As such I am pretty susceptible to influence because this is a tried and trusted process using good sources and decision-making. I don't let it get the better of the standards I've put in place to ensure this hobby doesn't become problematic for me. Pasha de Cartier Parfum is high up on my list of what to try next, and I'm very much aware that's directly from your influence and the influence of other trusted reviewers. 1. I'm less likely to try something that isn't talked about, unless I see it in the flesh and can test it there and then. 2. I'm not more likely to try these brands. 3. This has been true in my case. 4. It's both and that's what I enjoy. I love reading opinions and experience, and sharing my own. This is just a thoroughly enjoyable sensory hobby if it was just about the scents themselves; the beauty of it is the engagement and our shared experience.

Here is the problem IMHO. Xerjoff is marketed as a sexy brand, or should I say hyped as a sexy brand, think Naxos for an example, while a brand like Hermes, most reviewers mark them unjustifiably as 'controversial, or mixed reactions' denoting them as only fragrances that can be worn for the office. I think in a lot of cases (you are not one of those cases) reviewers don't even take the time to get people's reactions, instead they simply parrot what the next reviewer has said. On a street review Hermes H24 edt and edp got far better reactions from people than YSL Y edp, or Chanel Blu, and other over-hyped fragrances. But some reviewers will say Terre d'Hermes is dirty (IT IS NOT) or H24 is weird (IT IS NOT), and then the next reviewer will simply repeat that. Check Saab's street reaction to both H24s please.

In my opinion I like that people are not interested in brands like Cartier, Lalique, Issey Miyake and Hermes. It makes me smelling unique in a crowd full of PDM, Xerfoff and others

The influencer to me helps me determine a choice in fragrance. My experience will determine the importance of watching more about the brand. Hype is a powerful influence. Experience with scents determine brand interest too. Though unless you research on your own, there is a need for an influencer’s presentation of unknown brands/fragrances. I would also say that scent profiles still are my main determining factor of all of it.

Cartier and Hermes are readily available and I can test myself at my local mall and develop my own opinion for free. Xerjoff and Creed are more in the blind buy category so to experience it, I need to at the very least spend money on a sample. Id prefer to watch videos that both inform where I may spend my money and mitigate the risk that I may not like it.

1. No I enjoy perfumery as an art, brands don’t derail me from my purchase. What might discourage me is presentation, it has be to aesthetically pleasing. 2. For Xerjoff there is a large dislike of the brand and their price point same goes for Roja perfumes. Folks believe the quality ratio to price point does not match which is why I have never considered picking a bottle from those brands. I have Cartiers which I enjoy but most folks believe they are for the older crowd. 3. Yes this will ignite my curiosity about the brand and motivate me to pick one of their bestsellers just to have an idea for the hype 4. I believe the fragrance community has evolved majorly due to social media and influencers. Back in the days a product was made popular if a celebrity was endorsing it but nowadays influencers tend to do the research for frag heads like me in giving me a landing if I want to pull the trigger for a perfume 5. Price point, presentation, availability of official sample sets.

1. Not necessarily. If a brand I'm familiar with isn't mentioned a lot by social media, it means one of two things: The fragrance is super niche/unique and unknown, or it's heavily disliked/underminded by the majority. Both of which could be a pro and a con. Brand's name value in media usually means that it is a trustworthy brand that is loved by many, which can't be a bad thing. But it can mean it lacks the uniqueness factor, which is important to some. 2. I'm also in the ballpark/group of people who'd choose Xerjoff over Cartier, and if we go even further, Tom Ford/PDM/Memo/Zoologist over Xerjoff. More mainstream taste you could say in terms of niche houses, but it's not because they're mainstream. It's because these houses have strong yet familiar/well-thought out theme in both aesthetics, fragrance composition, and the perfumery itself. I'm not entirely familiar with the brand Cartier, but the reason I'd choose Xerjoff over Cartier is because 1. Xerjoff is a brand I've seen mentioned a lot and praised a lot both on Fragrance review sites, and Fragrance reviewers. Now these things don't mean jack if I don't like their fragrance line overall, but it's builds a foundation of trust and interest when about 90 percent of people online are saying good things about them. Cartier, on the other hand, I've not heard of until today. And based on the limited research I've done, their fragrances seem fine in both design and smell, but it seems more geared towards making lots of fragrances that's focused on the notes only, instead of making a cohesive idea/fragrance concept. I think people not only buy fragrances for the smell, but also for story/theme/what the fragrance represents as a whole. In my experience, people want to feel like they're wearing something that has an identity/either tangible or an abstract idea behind it. I guarantee you that a great smelling fragrance in a normal looking bottle will not sell better than a fragrance that smells fine but has good marketing/branding and overarching theme behind it with a specific design and artistic concept in mind. And that's where a lot of these other brands seem to be missing. But also I love brands that take risks and try new stuff in their fragrance, and I think Xerjoff does their fragrance a lot more interesting and new compared to Cartier, which seems somewhat traditional compared to Xerjoff. When I see notes and the theme behind Cartier's fragrances, they don't jump out or catch my attention, while some of Xerjoff's fragrances actually do. 3. Eh, probably not? I usually watch at least 1 or 2 videos on brands that don't get a lot of attention to find some unique fragrances sometimes, but if their fragrances don't generate interest in me, I end up not looking back. Like I always skip on Chanel, Dior, Versace and most other designer fragrances because I find their fragrance to lack the uniqueness and artistic theme that I'm looking for. But hey, that might just be me. 4. Has to be both no? It's like if you put both phrases and do the circle of arrows to each other, it'll keep spinning around. Probably popularity gets generated from either side and it starts a cycle of interest for that brand. 5. I ultimately always do end up testing my fragrances before I buy them, but I am influenced both by reviews online and myself, so for me to try these lesser known brands, I think I've written basically all of it at the number 2 question, but basically to sum it up: A. A brand that has a trust-worthy reputation is a good start for me to at least take a look at their fragrance line in general. - There are so many fragrances and fragrance brands both designer and niche, that you have to have some customers or reviewers say good things for me to at least say "Ok, this is a brand I can trust to make high quality stuff". This doesn't mean it has to be designer, but only that the brand/perfumer has to be reputible in general. B. Strong artistic concept and theme behind the fragrance for me to immerse myself in that "idea" of fragrance. - Starts with branding, marketing, to bottle, and over to the cohesiveness of notes. C. Bold and unique take on traditional or overdone ideas of perfumes in the past, or something completely innovative. D. High-quality ingredients and materials. E. I have to like their scents after smelling them myself.

During my fragrance journey I used to watch lots of content, top ten lists, etc. I began to notice lots of redundancy so I began looking in the comments for more ideas and folks who "swore on they momma" a particular fragrance was nice. That would catch my attention regardless of brand, so I would then research. To each his own. Without reviewers to initiate the convo, most of my collection I'd be unaware of. The deeper you go into the rabbit hole, the more you appreciate regardless of brand. Maybe that's just been my experience. *FYI, you put me on H24. Good looking out!

Cartier, Lalique and Hermes are on my ”list” ( try and buy ) since a while back. I try to listen to the description of the fragrance and where ( situations )and with what ( clothes ) i will wear it. I try to avoid anything that sounds too ”sales pitchy” ( that is also why i gravitate to you and other youtubers with a more down to earth attitude ).

Hermes and cartier are some of my favourite houses of fragrances put there . Love em. Also you’re the only content creator who speaks about some of my favourite fragrances being the cartier declaration d’un soir and the pasha de cartier parfum , both of them are just absolute bangers and some of the most well blended smooth fragrances I’ve ever experienced.

I am 63 and believe that less people view cartier hermes videos because of age,Roja and xerjoff appeal to a younger market in my opinion and fragrance reviewers that i really like(the older ones) tend to talk about the old classics like chanel,cartier and old style fougeres but not the new swinging sweet scents so much..but thats my opinion,hope it helps Justin.

1- No 2- I will wear a fragrance if I absolutely like it regardless of the brand. I don't prioritize the brand over the product itself 3- Hermes and Cartier are exceptional brands and I have fragrances from both. I use RU-vidrs suggestions to try fragrances not to blind buy them. I'll buy them only if I absolutely enjoy them. 4- I think it's a bit of both. Just bought Chanel Egoiste (A fragrance nobody talks about) and loving it. Also got samples of Tom Ford Beau De Jour and Noir Extrême. really enjoyed Beau De Jour so thank you for recommending it Justine ;)

Imho brands like Cartier and Hermès are easily sampled, just head over to my nearest shop and I know all I need to know. It wasn’t until I fell down the perfumery rabbit hole that I learned about Xerjoff etc. If I want to sample any niche brand, I have to make an effort to find out where they are available and end up walking into a high end specialty shop… or I rely on videos like yours. I own both niche and designer fragrance, but the ones I actively search information on online are the ones that aren’t as easily accessible to me.

Bought Declaration after watching your video and love it. Cartier and Hermes are well known but not as much in the fragrance world imho. If it was watched or bags that’s different.

Love the Marvin Gaye reference in your closing! As for choosing Xerjoff over Cartier, I actually had two Cartier fragrances before I picked up my first Xerjoff. And I was wearing Hermes' Equipage (the vintage formulations are stunning!) before I even heard of Creed. My best guess is, even though no one wants to admit it, influencers have much more influence over us. I have to thank you for turning me on to Xerjoff Renaissance and Amouage Enclave. Both are amazing and I'd probably have passed on either without your recommendation. But great that you're interested in this question and I'm looking forward to reading he responses below.

1. This can happen sometimes, unfortunately. I kind of avoided trying Serge Lutens because I thought they’d be “too niche” given they’re not talked about much. Boy was I wrong. Their recent Ecrin de Fumee is a masterpiece, so are Ambre Sultan, L’Orpheline, and Chergui. 2-3. Does not apply to me. I actually avoid brands that push heavily (sometimes with free bottles) like Xerjoff, PdM, Creed. 4. It’s both, but I think RU-vidrs should do more, which is why I appreciate channels like yours that bring attention to less pushed brands like Cartier and Hermes. Maybe one way is to include them in lists and praise them (honestly) next to the popular stuff like Xerjoff etc.

One plausible explanation for this disparity in interest in my opinion is, the lesser discussed brands are more discussed when it comes to other products they make which they are better known for than fragrance. Hermes is the most discussed luxury handbags manufacturer. Cartier is one of the most discussed watch brands. When it comes to Creed and Xerjoff, their core products are fragrance. They’re not known for anything else. So if you’re discussing the brands from a fragrance standpoint, of course the fragrance-focused brands will have more interest.

Accessibility. That is the reason I have not tried more fragrances from Hermes or Cartier. They are not "in store" where I live. Creed, Tom Ford, Initio and the like have counters at the mall. I have tried Declaration, based on your recommendation, and Terre D'Hermes is at every Sephora. The others just aren't readily available to "put my nose on". Appreciate the thought provoking inquiry, Mr Justin!

My man! Doin’ ya’ thang! Much respect brother👊🏾. Great playing and hanging over the weekend! Q

Here is my take. Cartier and Hermes - i can run into Nordstrom and even some other department stores to try and form my own opinion. Creed and xerjoff are nowhere to be found and thus I need sage advice to buy my first bottle from this brand scent unsniffed.

I think that the "fragrance community" tends to skew younger. Younger people tend to be more attracted to certain brands / scent profiles / marketing. Hermes and Cartier are brands that I think would tend to skew older. They have very little to no marketing that I've seen. Also most of their fragrances seem to cater to more of a middle aged demographic. Might just be a case where the demographics of Cartier and Hermes buyers might not line up with people who watch fragrance content online.

Stumbled over your channel today. I neve had any perfumes. Started this year with using them after getting 40 and in a full fledged midlife crisis xD. Love your content! You have a calm style, your voice is pleasant, your speak clearly so I have no issues to understand you (English is my third language) and you make thoughful and well balanced content. Keep up the great work! Btw.: I am a total noob when it comes to fragrances but I like experiments. I love Tom Ford Oud Wood and also Xerjoff Alexandria III. But both where lacking something the other one had. Logical step: Combine them (or as you would say: layer them). And it works. Very decadent style of using perfume. But worth a try!

Justin, I would say simply that brands similar to CARTIER and HERMES are more available for sampling as they’re in more accessible stores like SEPHORA and MACYS for example. However, CREED and XERJOFF are a bit more difficult to find. Not every neighborhood in America has a mall with a SAKS FIFTH or NORDSTROM. I’d also say PRICING is a variable in your viewing data. People might be intimidated by the price of a creed/xerjoff and want to make sure that what they like is validated by a professional golden nose such as the one you possess, good sir. Fascinating content Justin! Hope that helps you on your quest for knowledge

For the indies: I have well known lesser discussed fragrances in my collection because as I was fragrance sampling, I loved them. That just doesn't happen frequently for me. I do try them, and I'm typically overwhelmed.

1. I do not avoid fragrances if few to no people are talking about it, in fact, I gravitate to those fragrances because they may offer something that's unique. Finding unique fragrances is the reason why I watch your channel.

1. I do not care about brand names when I get new recommendations. I usually try to get samples because I know some perfumes I might dislike at first, but end up loving them, as it often happened with Amouage. After multiple wears, I decide whether I "need" it, or not, based on my perception (and my wife's). 2. I guess the brand inventory availability (in stores) plays an important role here. 3. Yes, as long as those brands are present in stores. Also, no, not really, because I like certain brands and certain perfumers. Cartier does not check those boxes. Aa for Hermes, only one perfume sparked my interest, but not enough to justify a purchase. I guess I'm a snob. 4. In my experience, as an observer, reviewers create hype, and I would guess that determines lots of people's purchases. I often see it happening in the communities I am part of.

Question 2 answer: I have heard of Cartier but by watching your channel and exploring more into niche fragrances I never heard of Xerjoff and it peaked my interest in knowing more of the brand

To be honest, I don't follow the niche videos very frequently. Niche is often very expensive or not available in my country, Brazil. So i tend to watch the designer ones and the brands I'm able to find it here. That´s my reasoning for watching or not something.

For me I’m sure there is a degree of brand bias, but a huge factor in whether I watch a video or not is whether it pertains to fragrances I can actually access where I live. There isn’t a decant community where I am, so the more niche the fragrance, the less likely I am to give it much attention. That’s why I might watch a Tom Ford video over a Cartier video, and yet an Hermes video over a Xerjoff one. Each of those can be tested and tried where I am and the others not.

People often turn to RU-vid for opinions on fragrances that aren’t available in local stores. For instance, when someone wants a Xerjoff perfume, they typically have to order it online without testing it first. In contrast, more widely available brands can be sampled in stores before purchase. This is why, in my opinion, Xerjoff and other niche fragrances tend to receive more views on RU-vid.

“Second Time Around”, to respond to your inquiry. Maybe it’s just me, but generally speaking the traditional luxury brands e.g., Cartier, Hermes, instill an air of refinement and gentlemanly taste that I believe younger generations are not interested in. Creed too use to embody this approach to gentlemanly style and taste. The overall idea is “less is more”. With the younger influencer generation, fragrance needs a wow 🤩 factor or impact; so it seems to me. In addition, taste in fragrance has also changed. Nowadays more fragrances incorporate scents from fruits, liquor, or cocoa, or coffee. A lot of men typically are not interested in wearing fragrances that are overtly food oriented. Fruity is mildly suggestive; fruit 🍎 like is too “on the nose”! Thanks for asking.

I think it's important to note that the online perfume community is currently in it's "niche era". People are avoiding well known designers in favor of "lesser known brands", which in turn makes these "niche" houses the popular brands in the end. Then add the fact that a lot of these classic houses might be associated to older generations to some and you have a recipe for lack of interest in these more traditional scents.

1. I will not avoid a fragrance if its well-familiar by me, I look for more sophisticated and different type fragrance. That's why I like your content, because you bring fragrances to my attention that i might even like them more then the well know fragrance brand. 2. Cartier is on my list to buy next as well as other niche houses like creed and Xerjoff so they are not really over each other, but I still want to get something like Creed or Xerjoff first because I them better then Cartier. 3, not really because I want something that not a lot of people know of or that one creator (like you for example) is in love with a fragrance and makes them feel some type of way. (its not just a sent, but a feeling). 4.for me it both of them together

I think fragrance houses just generally pique my interest because it’s what they do as opposed to a more diversified portfolio of a fashion house.

To me the reviewers are categorized. There are some who hype the fragrances because they are sponsored and its quite evident. And then there are reviewers like you and Sebastian who I have a lot of respect for and your opinions mean a lot when i am deciding on a fragrance. I usually narrow down on a fragrance and look for your impressions, then try it out myself for confirmation and also if it works for me and on my skin type before making a purchase. I have close to 200 fragrances and most of them are niche and primarily for one reason and that’s because they last better on my skin type as compared to designer fragrances. I am always looking for fragrances that compliment my mood for the day/night and the season and have no issues with designer fragrances. In fact, Cartier Pasha and Bleu De Chanel make one of my most worn fragrances

My pleasure Justin, here we go: 1. I do not, if I like it, I wear it, I couldn't care less if people talk about it. It's the reason why even to this day sometimes I wear "Diavolo" or "Mediterraneo" by Antonio Banderas, or" Glacier" made by Oriflame. 2. I'd have to go with...creativity and diversion, Xerjoff keeps me curious and I'm always willing to try more. I rarely failed with one. 3. I think I would. At least I would be more interested in decanting it for ex. 4. In my case I watch the creator and then read other people's comments to see also if anyone has/had it, read their description, then I sometimes go to Fragrantica as well. But it's definitely dictated by both. Thanks!!!

1. No, at this point in time I find myself buying good designer since they are cheaper than niche, currently. 2. If I would choose Xerjoff it would be because of their wide range of fragrances. From fruity to heavy sweet they got it all. 3. No, I believe the words that influencers use spike my curiosity than anything. For example influencers would use the words " Older and gentleman " to describe Cartier, Hermes and Guerlain (besides the L'Homme line). 4. I would say the influencers spark the interest of a fragrance to the community. But as their channel gets more experienced viewers they might want your take on a certain fragrance. 5. For me, it's all about timing. I do have a L'Envol fragrance and Cartier is something I want to try. But Hermes is DEFINITELY not for me and Guerlain (in my opinion) is the most underrated designer house they can give Dior a run for their money.

My answers to these questions: 1.) I avoid brands even if I’m well-familiar with the name if the reviewers I find my taste aligns with frequently do not recommend their fragrances. I generally only try whole brands or individual fragrances that you recommend. This is because I trust your taste and opinion. Money does not grow on trees so I even sample sparingly. 2. Using your example (Xerjoff vs Cartier), based upon your descriptions of many of Cartier’s fragrances I believe the brand to be more “challenging” than Xerjoff generally. While I do have a fairly extensive collection, I find myself gravitating towards more easy to wear/understand scents. Therefore, I’m more likely to try a brand like Xerjoff over Cartier because I feel as though I will have more use out of the fragrances. 3. I would be more apt to trying fragrances that sound appealing to me. I’ve tried brands that have very little or no “hype.” Argos, Marc-Antoine Barrios, Ineke, and Unique e luxury, are but a few examples of these. What it boils down to for me is I try fragrances that sound interesting to me based on what I know my taste to be. I have not sampled anything from Cartier yet because from all the fragrance descriptions I’ve heard only one sounds like something I would enjoy and that would be pasha parfum. I will try that as the weather cools off! 4. I do believe it is a combination of the audience determine their overall interest in brand/fragrances as well as the reviewer creating hype for something undiscovered. I do not take reviewer recommendations overly serious. I have sampled a lot and own dozens of fragrances and have a good idea of what I like and what I don’t like. I know that everyone’s taste is different so a glowing recommendation from any amount of reviewers doesn’t automatically get me on board. I have to be intrigued by the scent profile and ideally it be a fragrance that would serve its own unique purpose in my collection and stand out in some way from anything else I own!

I can only really speak for myself here, but to answer 1-3, I don't care as much about brand names as I did earlier in my journey, especially considering that I'm now in a phase of my fragrance journey where I've been seeking out/exploring/purchasing from a lot of lesser-known independent brands, some of which are rarely if ever talked about on many channels and many of which I found out about from either Instagram ads or randomly stumbling across online. But overall, whether it's a Xerjoff, Cartier, or some brand I never heard of, if the notes sound interesting to me and it something that grabs me from the description, I will give it a try.

I just buy what is appealing to me doesn’t matter the brand as long as the fragrance is within my style and taste.

Brands like Hermes and Cartier are pretty well known being designer frags and for me, these brands are much more accessible and easy to learn about on my own. You can often find designer frags and most malls, unlike niche houses where you have to search them out or go to a specific store. Niche frags are more of an investment so I’m eager to spend more time learning about them. I don’t practically avoid designer frags, I buy what I like, but there is much less thought into them for me opposed to niche frags.

4- Like all consumed art forms, popularity is initially due to hype or promotional efforts. That doesn't last too long though as once consumed, continued interest is only brought on by how pleasing it is to both the individual and the general public.

My humble oppinion. I believe that work well done, plus quality, is finally recognized by people over the years. Hermès and Carter, from the designer side, have demonstrated this fact, and Xerjoff from the niche side as well. To me, Creed is a phenomenon on the english side of the world, and I can't say enough about that. But imagine how frustrating it is for people, to spend over 100 dollars on a fragrance and not have the quality they expected. This is because some designer houses, such as Chanel or Dior, are loosing customers every year in Europe. Now people have similar but better alternatives from niche houses. See you soon!

I'm slowly reaching into more "normal" houses for fragrances, I started with Creed/Xerjoff/PDM first since I wanted to go for scents that I would less likely run into out in public, whether it be because of "cost of entry" or unawareness of other fragrances, that way I would have a better chance of standing out to people I wanted to impress. But now I've gotten a little older and focused more on what makes me feel better when I wear something more so than a scent reminding somone of somebody else that they may have had a bad interaction with. My first fragrance was ADG Profumo and after adding a few niche fragrances to my collection I also started to focus on other things with my health/appearance since I had to come to a conclusion of fragrances are only a small part of someone likely complimenting you/enjoying the scent with you. If you are walking around in athletic shorts and a graphic tee but wearing Royal Oud, you're likely not doing anyone or your wallet any justice. Thanks for the good videos as usual!

3. If I'm introduced to a fragrance with notes that excites my curiosity, I may be more willing to try them; if I'm introduced to a fragrance and the notes of the brand doesn't excite me repeatedly, I'm more likely to steer away from the brand as a whole.

1. I don't care if the hype was past or present, as I've delved into old videos looking for specific types of fragrances that I want in my collection and been successful doing so. 2. I am more likely to try a brand if it has been endorsed by multiple reviewers I trust or I have personal experience of its quality at the least. 3. One really good (read, well-spoken and thought-out) review is enough for me to at least look up a fragrance and from there consider sampling it. The amount of people on the hype train doesn't matter as much to me. I know my own tastes well enough that from a well-done review and looking at the notes I can typically see if it's at least worth sampling for me. 4. I will only watch content that's applicable to me. For example on the subject of brands, every single Tom Ford fragrance I've ever tried my skin has destroyed within an hour. Thus, I'll never watch a TF-centric video no matter the hype.

I’m the guy who prefers to watch Hermes and Cartier over Creed and Xerjoff videos. Having said that I do prefer watching videos about lesser known brands, or less popular brands (neither Cartier nor Hermes’ qualify). My preference is to watch videos/research in order to inform my purchases. I will seek out opportunities to smell fragrances first, if it is relatively low effort ie at a nearby mall, shop or friend. This videos about brands like Cartier or Hermes are helpful because I can calibrate my palate by watching and then smelling them as they are relatively easy to find around me. However, due to a combination of cost and convenience, if I can easily find a particular fragrance to smell, I prefer to blind buy a full sized fragrance over ordering samples. Being in Canada, I find shipping and taxes as deterrents from ordering them. “In for a penny, in for a pound” comes to mind. I much prefer to research, and if intrigued and finding supportive information, I then “blind” buy the fragrance. However, usually by the time I’ve ordered the frag I don’t feel blind wrt it. So, your videos are an important part of my process. Hope this helps provide insight into my vice!

A handful of the Cartier stuff sounds good. Part of it may be the seemlingly old school nature of many of their scent profiles. I would love to see a fresh summer fragrance from them, something fruity, maybe even an aquatic. Their presentation also seems somewhat old. Could be part of it.

When you have a multitude of creators all pushing for Aventus, I get interested in Aventus. Top ten lists always seem to have a lot of the same fragrances no matter the different taste of the creator. It's why I like your channel its not just the same old choices

It all started just a few months ago when I went down the rabbit hole in search of a new cologne since my Prada black finally ran dry I said maybe I should see what else is out there before buying another bottle of Prada black. This resulted in me buying several small decants from of the highest recommended colognes and Creed aventis and imperial blew my socks off and so did Tom Ford's oud wood. I realized I would like to create a collection of high-end cologne

If a person wants to try a Cartier or Hermès perfume they can probably find it for themselves in a department store. Not everyone has niche boutiques close by, and if they do they might be intimidated. I own two Cartier fragrances and one Hermès. No Xerjoff or Creed. But I do have boutiques in town where I've tried them.

Personally, I believe that people subconsciously expect Cartier and Hermès videos to focus on 'flagship' fragrance flankers, like those from the Declaration and Terre d'Hermès lines, even if the flankers differ significantly. In contrast, when it comes to brands like Xerjoff and Creed, there's an expectation of versatility. Each fragrance has a distinct name and appearance, making names like Aventus, Royal Oud, and Viking sound more appealing than variations like Declaration EDT, Declaration EDP, or Declaration d'un Soir.

1. Even if you are well-familiar with the NAME of a brand, do you still avoid it if few to no people online are recommending their fragrances? --- No, not at all. At least not now. Maybe a few years ago when I first got into the hobby, but now I tend to look for the unknowns out there. 2. Based on what you've seen and heard (feedback of others), what makes you more likely to try a brand like Xerjoff over one like Cartier? --- It used to be things like "high quality" and "naturals" that drew me toward something. Now I've learned that 1) those are often just meaningless words, and 2) most brands, designer and niche, have access to and use many of the same materials, I tend to focus more on comparisons to other scents or the experience a brand/scent is supposed to provide. Funny enough, I'm about 6 years into this hobby now and I own a few Cartier fragrances but still have yet to try a single Xerjoff. Wild, I know, especially since I've become a bit of a niche snob. 3. If you saw a greater amount of attention on RU-vid for lesser-discussed brands like Hermès and Cartier, do you believe you might be more apt to try them? --- Possibly, I'm not sure. As I mentioned earlier, I get most excited by brands I haven't heard or before. 4. Does fragrance popularity come as a result of a REVIEWER creating hype for something undiscovered, or does the AUDIENCE determine their overall interest in certain brands/fragrances, ultimately dictating what the creator should make content about? Or perhaps BOTH? --- I think it's a bit of both. reviewers definitely play a part, but I think a lot of it is due to people in forums and Facebook groups that seem to take something from moderately hyped to over the top. The reviewers then see this growing hype it and it becomes sort of a cycle. 5. What do you think it would take for you to try these well-known yet lesser-discussed brands? --- I sample almost everything before I buy it nowadays. My sampling habits can be rather random, though I also buy sample kits from places like Sebastian/The Perfume Guy, who sells mystery boxes and Scent Club Kits. I also will buy curated sample kits from shops like Ministry of Scent that put to together themed sets every now and then. As far as just ordering samples of something I've seen on RU-vid, it's honestly kind of unpredictable and heavily dependent on impulse. I have a list of things I want to try and sometimes I'll see a scent mentioned and be like "oh yea, I've been wanting to try that for a while", so I'll consult my list and order a few samples.

Great vid. I personally only pay attention to about 6 fragrance reviewers. I’m more interested in those who are very honest with their opinions, generally buy their own samples and don’t constantly “peddle” huge bottles of fragrance. I love to explore fragrance so someone else exploring gets me interested. Brands that heavily market and provide lots of PR generally don’t interest me. Brands with outrageous or outright lies for origin stories and perfumers even less. I look for transparency, honesty, uniqueness, understated marketing and branding and reviewers who know their stuff, not just parroting the pr spiel or fragrance notes Either way I’m not easily influenced, but I can be appealed to :)

I actually feel that there are certain designer brands that are incredibly underrated! Chanel, Cartier, and Hermès to be specific. But it seems that the RU-vid community has been pushing the niche brands. As a consumer who lives about 10 minutes form a luxury mall that is also a tourist destination, I make very few "blind buys" and I enjoy the testing/sampling process. Don't get me wrong...I do enjoy watching fragrance videos; but, one of my most worn fragrances this summer was Sisley Eau du Soir, which is a fragrance no RU-vidr ever talks about!! PS Sisley Eau du Soir is an older fragrance from the 90's and works well in high heat. I never heard of it until around Mother's Day of this year. A sales woman said this was the best in the store, and after wearing it for about an hour...I decided it I wanted it!!

Cartier and Hermes fragrances do nothing for me so i skip all recommendations about them because they are simply not my style. Now gerlain is underrated

Many brands also don’t get the love they deserve. Chopard : ( Musk and Oud Malaki are criminally underrated ). Lacoste - Boucheron Laboratorio Olfattivo- etc ..

Some interesting points, I think a big part of it is the vast majority of people don't live in big cities where access to niche brands is easier, those people have access to mass market brands like Hermes, Guerlain, Dior, JPG etc at pharmacies, rack stores, even some supermarkets, but only big Cities will have large department stores and boutique perfume stores. So for those who can't get to London, New York, L.A., Paris Madrid, Rome, Milan etc their expose to niche brands is limited and will involve buying samples, discovery kits and decants online, so influencers and content creators can help in narrowing down the vast number of said samples people need to buy. I might be in the minority being a fragrance enthusiats but I love less common brands, often spoke about by only a couple of on line folks like, Bon Perfumeur, Strangers Perfumerie, Czech and Speake, Lilya's Aroma, Dr Vranjes etc, I would love to see more of this online rather than creators covering the same houses and often the same fragrances, okay a new launches are understandable, but I would never have discovered Lilya's Aroma, Bon Perfumeur, Room 1015 or Fueguia 1833 if it were not for the couple of channels who reviewed their fragrances. I see it from a different perspective, rather than the viewers not watching less well known content, I see it that once a channel is monetized the creator is chasing views so only pumps out content they think will get them more views. I understand why we all need to make a living, but I still think it's worth making less popular content that can help educate your followers/subscribers on less well known houses like Compagne de Provance, Zernelle Gillie, Aaron Terence Hughes etc. And yes I own fragrances from all the houses I mentioned in this comment

Disclaimer: I have both Cartier and Hermes fragrances in addition to all the others you mentioned, so I may be slightly more informed than those who don't. I think it's actually quite simple as to why these two brands aren't extremely popular or sought after - they're both marketed at high price point, but what they have to offer isn't something people seek out due to lacking performance or being "dated," "mature," or whatever you want to call it - and possibly both. Both houses offer a more niche than niche experience, in my opinion. They're not mass appealing and they are targeted toward an older consumer, all the while costing as much or more as most niche brands that perform better and have a... not as dated scent profile. And to answer the question about whether or not reviewers can drive popularity... well, I think you have answered your own question. 🙂 You frequently discuss these two houses, yet they remain unpopular. Just my opinions, of course. Have a good day!!

Question 1 answer: No. Just because no is pushing it, doesn't mean I'm going to avoid it. If I know a particular house fragrances does well for my body chemistry, I'm going to pay attention for new or try different fragrances from that house. Case in point, Chris Collins. His fragrances do well for Me and I was introduced to Renaissance and I love it.

I think it’s simply a matter of very few content creators talking about Hermes and Cartier outside of Terre d’Hermes and Pasha de Cartier Parfum respectively, and even those don’t come up very often. Also consider what’s popular/trending in the fragrance space and how that doesn’t line up with what Hermes and Cartier offer. People want monster performers; loud, sweet, attention-grabbing scents. You also don’t always find these brands in your typical department store or beauty shop, so there doesn’t really seem to be much of a consumer demand for them either. Viewers are more likely to engage with what they know best, which is why videos that focus on clones and prominent designer brands perform better than ones that focus on niche or more obscure offerings.

FIRST PERSON FROM Ghana 🇬🇭

I think Cartier and Hermes fragrances specifically may have the stereotype of being too mature, which might be why many may not be as interested in trying them. I would also preface this by saying the fragrance community online probably skews towards the younger demographic, which might also contribute to this. For me, I use content creators as a rough gauge for which fragrances seem popular (esp. if they've been mentioned more than once) and may be worth trying (which I decide based on notes and style, not necessarily on how often they're mentioned). But I personally would rather watch a video that mentions Cartier, Hermes, Guerlain, etc. since: 1) those fragrances are often less popular and therefore I can stand out and 2) they can often be cheaper than say other unique niche fragrances

I daresay that interestingly, collectors who truly appreciate the art of perfumery are more likely to sing praises of cartier/hermes lines both mass & private, while Xerjoff and Creed appeal to people just getting into perfumes, and niche perfumes especially, since they are both hyped by creators on YT & TT. The average, uninitiated person is more likely to perceive Hermes and Cartier has bag/jewellery brands.

Answering in order. 1. At the beginning of fragrance collecting (and watching RU-vid reviewers) I would not necessarily avoid brands but rather hype beasts had all my attention so I was less likely to try the others. 2. Whether it's true or not, multiple factors make me think brands like Xerjoff/Amouage are higher end and more alluring 3. Yes I have, partly because I am just exploring scents of my own accord now out of curiosity and also as you have highly recommended them. 4. Both but I think creator generated hype is real and influences people to seek out specific brands

1) I don't consider all well known brands to be strong fragrance houses. Cartier is an example of a brand I've never had good experiences with in fragrance, so it's not on my radar. With this in mind the only thing that's going to make me pay attention is a strong recommendation. So with respect to that the answer may be yes. That said, the only brand where I like all of their fragrances, admittedly only 3, is Kitowa and I've never seen an online reviews, so I'm open to trying new brands I haven't heard of or formed an opinion on. 2) Xerjoff is one of my four top fragrance houses (Kitowa & Vilhelm are 1 and 2 with Roja and Xerox rounding out the top 4). All are niche and have unique formulas as I'm rarely attracted to something that I feel doesn't distinguish itself from the competition. Designer brands aren't bad per se, but I don't have much interest in the category. There are exceptions like Sisley and Tom Ford, though neither is my favorite and Tom Ford plays it a bit safe for me, and I do own Terre De Hermes EDP a couple other designer fragrances. 3) Volume of attention isn't a factor, but quality of attention is. If I saw a bunch of trustworthy reviewers speaking highly of a designer brand and comparing it quality wise to products I like that would increase the likelihood of me trying something from a designer house while at the moment I skip by them in stores and only try what's sent to me in Influenster. 4) I don't think this is a question that can be defined for RU-vid as a whole. Ultimately there's too much competition on RU-vid and I feel a content creator will find an audience that's an appropriate fit. For some reviewers it's all about the hype and I presume their top 10 lists have a stronger influence. For others they come to hear a highly detailed/informed analysis so they can form their own opinion. I do feel in either case positive exposure is likely to influence some level of interest if you have similar tastes, but candidly my favorite reviewers give enough information about their experience for me to form my own opinion about whether the product interests me. The reviewers with the best growth seem to find a way to consistently expand their appeal without alienating existing audiences too much. 4b) As for the second part of the question I don't really care about whether a brand's less discussed by RU-vid, but I do care about my personal experience. I've found that by smelling 3 fragrances I can often get a vibe for how a brand mixes fragrances (their quality, uniqueness, whether they heavily blend or I can pick out specific notes, etc.). For brands I find interesting, which is different than liking any of those three or more fragrances I tried, I want to keep tabs. I'm likely to click on a review in those cases if something pops up because even if I've never liked a specific scent, I keep thinking maybe I'll find something. I may even go out to reviewers I'm not familiar with to get additional takes if I'm particularly interested and I felt something was missing from the original reviews I wanted to know. For brands I've been disinterested (or personally offended) by, I'm less likely to click on reviews because I have limited time and that feels like a waste of it. In those instances the most likely way I'm going to be reeled in will be for a new product to be included in a video I'm otherwise already clicking on and to hear that the brand seems to be going in a different direction or hear a note breakdown I find particularly appealing. This could happen in a top 10 video where I saw inclusion of other fragrances that made me click on the video to begin with. As far as specific review points likely to reel me in: (1) Uniqueness, as I'm less likely to be interested in a dupe or something overly standard. This doesn't mean a comparison is a bad thing especially if there are relatively few comparison points to choose from and this fragrance does something to take it in a different direction; (2) Note breakdown with a few things being likely to reel me in. For example, I like a green/aromatic fragrance and an authentic mint note is hard to find. In any instance I feel a reviewer can give a better breakdown on which notes are prominent and others you can hardly smell in a way that a simple note breakdown can't convey; (3) How well blended the notes are, as I like complex fragrances where multiple notes are distinguishable from each other vs. a singular smooth blend where you can't pick out the breakdown easily; (4) Quality as I can manage high prices but don't have a large collection and have no interest in compromising on quality just to add a number.

I love this. Here are my answers 1. Not necessarily avoid, but theyll be the caboose on the priority list. Not even a quality thing, moreso I just wont think of them as often as other houses. 2. Xerjoff is more tempting for me to check out due to their name being drilled into my brain more whether in the community or on videos. They also seem to hold more value in a “status” sense, owning a niche brand is something people flaunt moreso than a designer in MOST cases. 3. Yes. Its all about building “hype” for a brand for it to really take off & hold longevity in the community. If your brand isnt being talked about alot then your new releases will suffer the fate of redundancy in conjunction to a popular release 99% of the time 4. Both, we fuel eachothers’ flames. Not sure where it all starts tho, id assume with bigger “shill” reviewers such as Jeremy or Ashton. However, sometimes its the definitely the opposite In conclusion, brands are like cliques and fragrances are like highschool students. The popular will usually prevail regardless of quality and the outcasts will have hidden gems among them if you give them a chance.

Question 3: Maybe. It all depends on the profile of the fragrance that is being described. If the fragrance appeals to me and it’s in the right price point and avaiable no matter the brand I will try it

I think it really is a combination of how easy access a brand might be (availability in stores etc) and how talked about it is. Realisticaly the fragrance community is a small fraction of all fragrance buyers, that being said within itself there's a lot of influencing that happens. But at the same time, it is similar to other types of ''enjoyable things'' like music, or films. We can quickly decide we wont give a try to such artist, such franchise or such director if we heard bad things about them or if we presume they dont fit in with what we think we'll like. I believe the same things happen with fragrances, for example I dont really like Paco Rabane as a brand (mainly because so far I dont like the fragrances I smellt, alongside the general brand image) which makes me unlikely to go out of my way and discover a new Paco Rabane fragrance or watch a video about one. Similarly I dont care much for Creed either, due to what I've heard regarding ghost-perfumers, batch dillution etc. However I am aware that I'm operating on bias and not on the basis of anything tangible. If someone hears over and over good things about Club de Nuit Intense Man or Baccarat Rouge, one is way more likely to give it a try while coming accross it in a store one day, inversely hearing lots of bad things about Inexcusable Evil or Vanilla Sex might draw people away. I think there is such a thing as ''proper individual taste'' but it requires to be invested enough to go seek and discover things beyond the recommandations and ''hype''. The problem with that is you need time and energy to want to go to stores to spend hours smelling things, and ultimately money if we end up buying anything. So in a nutshell, that's a lot of words to say that people will tend to give attention to what is already given the most attention, in part to save up on mental energy, and in part because feeling that we're part of a ''wave'' or on board with the popular thing feels rewarding (and vice versa being opposed to the hype can feel good too)

It's multi-layered to me. 1. Brands such as creed/Xerjoff are hyped so much by everyone, there's almost an expectation of a specific quality. 2. Packaging, opinions may vary but bottles and presentation from Xerjoff/Amouage, to me are a part of the experience and product and draw my attention so I'm more likely to be intrigued by videos about them. 3. In store - certain brands are presented in a way which elevates them above others, like PDM, Xerjoff, creed, Amouage. Whereas Hermes, cartier can be found on the lower shelves. All these things combined would at least subconsciously effect my attention towards these brands.... However I do still watch them 😂

Before Aventus came along people didn't even know what niche perfumery was so it is new to them and want to learn more about it

Hey Justin--these are great questions. In my humble opinion I think it is just the opposite of what you are saying, but I also understand it is from your vantage point. Creators make content and in most cases the creator makes content as dictated by the consumer of the content (the consumer influences the content). What I see though is that the content creates the consumer. I watch a few channels, and it really doesn't surprise me at all that your audience wanted to see the Creed and Xerjoff and balked on the Cartier and Hermes. Your channel is for the true fragrance enthusiast, the 'niche snobs' (of which I am one), the frag heads who have over a hundred fragrances. Your audience want's and loves niche. You, whether you know it or not, have that bias too. You obviously love niche--the exotic, the weird, the 'off the beaten path' fragrances. Most of us in your audience would rather walk on hot coals then go buy a fragrance in Macys, and we aren't afraid of oud, cumin, castoreum, and civet! And you hardly even touch clones--which are all the rage on tiktok and other social media platforms. So I just think that your audience is not very interested in designers like Hermes and Cartier (despite the fact that they do have some good offerings). So, while brand bias might be at play, I believe that a better way to put it would be 'niche bias'--and that's ok--you just attract a more serious, refined, and interested group of fragrance enthusiasts, like myself. We want different, not the same old stuff, and we aren't unwilling to pay for it. In directing your content in this way you have created success for yourself--so keep it up--it's what we want. Hope this helps and keep up the good work!

1. Even if you are well-familiar with the NAME of a brand, do you still avoid it if few to no people online are recommending their fragrances? No, I would not avoid a well-known/well-familiar brand. If i love their creations, i would keep going back to explore! 2. Based on what you've seen and heard (feedback of others), what makes you more likely to try a brand like Xerjoff over one like Cartier? Reviewers definitely play a part in my trying a brand but also, my olfactory sense will ultimately make the final decision on what to try 3. If you saw a greater amount of attention on RU-vid for lesser-discussed brands like Hermès and Cartier, do you believe you might be more apt to try them? I would definitely try a fragrance if a well-known reviewer discusses it. Every fragrance is subjective but I always value your opinion and recommendation, Justin! 4. Does fragrance popularity come as a result of a REVIEWER creating hype for something undiscovered, or does the AUDIENCE determine their overall interest in certain brands/fragrances, ultimately dictating what the creator should make content about? Or perhaps BOTH? I would say Both....reviewers help guide us but may also some hype a fragrance up due to receiving free stuff...i don't have the best nose so i rely on friends and reviewers to give me the scoop on latest scents, releases, or even vintage items!

1. I'd say yes, because when I look for new fragrances to try/get, part of my vetting process is to see if it is well known or a fragrance that is generally liked by people, regardless of price or scent profile. If it's liked, then I look at the notes, to see if it interests me. I don't want to "waste" time getting a fragrance that in theory smells good, but no one has experience with. The analogy I like to use is I like to go to the museum to see rare gems, not did in a cave in the middle of somewhere to find rare gems as the first person because of the inconvenience 2. I'd try Xerjoff over hermes more because they have a variety of options for scents, the quality is high, and I have heard more about them and their catalogue than hermes (I've tried most of the big hermes fragrances, but wouldn't have unless someone mentioned to try them, which funny enough was you for some of the Hermes) 3. For me, not unless the scent profile is what I'm looking for, or if the presentation of the fragrance and "total package" of the fragrance appeal to me. If it's talked about more, I might sample it, but it has to fit the other criteria 4. I think it's a combination of both. I personally don't smell a fragrance because you like it, I smell it because the scent profile as you describe it sounds appealing to me. The reality is to get views, you are partially dictated by what people want to see. I appreciate when you talk about fragrances that are not the mainstream, and cause of that, I've checked out and even gotten a couple of fragrances I wouldn't have known about otherwise. It's really just about what that viewer wants out of their fragrance experience and entertainment for that matter

I normally try fragrance that I can smell in store. There aren’t any stores in my city that carry Cartier but do carry Creed, Xerjoff, and Hermes. Hermes doesn’t have a scent profile that I’m a fan of but I didn’t give them a in depth chance either.

Idk how the numbers stack up exactly, but my guess is that Creed and Xerjoff have more "lanes" of traffic in the algorithm of YT that sends people to your videos about those frags, while Cartier and Hermes have fewer overall lanes of traffic on YT, resulting in fewer algorithmic referrals.

I'm a Xerjoff fanboy because they use quality ingredients, but most of all, their fragrances are vastly different from the mainstream. They also have more unique fragrances and more variety than designer ones. Because of this, a person has a better opportunity with niche fragrances to suit one's individual likes and personality. As for influencers, I mostly enjoy them for entertainment because, after watching them for over three years, I've learned that too many are more like advertisers rather than giving honest opinions.

I’m not super familiar with Cartier, but I own a few Hermes fragrances, and I can tell you that anyone sleeping on that house is missing out of some high quality fragrances at reasonable prices.

I am generally not a big fan of designer fragrances but Hermes and Cartier have bangers

2. I have not smelled an unique and distinctive fragrance that I loved from Cartier. I have smelled unique and distinctive fragrances that I loved from Xerjoff. It's really that simple for me.

1: No! In fact, I'm a naturally very curious person and I tend to walk against the current, so sometimes I'll explore a house just because no one seems to talk about them. It's got me very positive results in the past... and some quite disappointing ones. 2. It's a mix of factors. The presentation, name of fragrances, overall esthetic and brand idea are usually what draws me in. Accessibility is another another one. Some houses are incredibly hard to get a hold of here in North America. 3. Very likely. I might not end up liking them but at least for curiosity's sake I'll check out a brand if there's a lot of talk about them to understand the hype. It won't affect my final judgment however. 4. That's a toughie! I think it's a bit of both. It's tough for the creators because so much depends on algorithms and whatnot so I know there has to be something generating attention of viewers and viewing time. However, the counterbalance is if you only talk about popular hyped up fragrances, you'll get a lot of clicks but ultimately you lose your individuality (and to some, your credibility) and end up not standing out of the sea of fragrance content creators which for some like you who swim against the current is difficult. Sadly, the ultimate truth is that our society is constructed in a way that if you go against the current, you're not going to be as popular. Individuality vs mass-appeal, basically.

1. In regards to how the general public seems to purchase fragrances - yes. We’re conditioned to follow the pack & seek approval. Even if we’re familiar with a brand, most consumers are scared to invest their time & money in a product from said brand without endorsement from the community. Even though a lot of us use fragrances to express individuality, most of us actually just want to fit in. Usually we open ourselves up to more ‘risk’ once we feel comfortable with our education & experiences; I’m comfortable with trying fragrances that nobody talks about (I’m many years into collecting), however I understand why someone new to this hobby would want to be guided towards brands that are generally recognised and revered by the community.

1- I actively look for fragrances from well known brands that are less talked about. I want to know that I'm buying quality, but uniqueness. I weigh reviews and scores on Parfumo & Fragrantica as much as I do YT recommendations. RU-vid reviewers (to varying degrees) rely on more popular fragrances to increase views and thus revenue. I don't find this to be wrong as everyone needs to feed their family, but because of it I know that I have to do more than just watch a 6 minute video before investing in a fragrance.

Honestly I’ve been thinking about this a bit too. And I think there’s two main reasons as to why this might happen 1)If I’m being painfully honest, to me the “hype” around certain brands stems from influencers promising some sort of result from wearing a brand or a fragrance, rather than strictly about the smell itself. The biggest example I can give is “compliment magnets” or “beast mode performance”, because most fragrance consumers within the United States wear fragrances to be seen or heard, not to supplement a vibe, their personality, or even just to wear something they thoroughly enjoy. 2) as with fashion, people just buy something for the name in order to have a “brag tag” or some sort of unstated 3rd-party’s approval.

1. brand name is unimportant for me, but if no one is talking about a scent it’s hard for me to commit money to trying it myself. 2. Quantity of hyped fragrances, if a brand is constantly putting out stuff people like, I’m more likely to be interested in content on that brand. 3. Obviously, but those brands seem to put out stuff that’s attempting to be mass appealing, and I like brands that put out stuff that says “I don’t care if you like me, this is what I am” 4. Both, it’s happen both ways.

Hi Justin! 1. Yes, kind of. That’s also related to the niche fragrances you’re recommending, which aren’t popular (and for a reason, in my opinion). 2. Huge brands like Xerjoff and Creed have many gorgeous fragrances from which you can build a collection for every occasion. However, when it comes to Cartier and others, there aren’t enough standout options. 3. Nope, I still won’t try them because I have Xerjoff and Creed. I don’t need 100 fragrances; for me, 10 is enough. 4. For me, it’s both, and I guess it’s impossible to answer this objectively. Like, I don’t really care about designer fragrances and usually skip your videos about them, but I understand that many people do watch them. However, if your video contains something about Xerjoff, I’ll watch every one of them till the end.

It’s a funny thing… I’m an optician I’m located 200meters from the beach. I feel that we have the same behaviour in sunglasses. General public buys a ray ban because they know it and see it it’s well known. There are better quality sunglasses but they don’t see people the look up to wear them. There are also the Guccis, Céline and Prada people show in trend awareness and wealth and acknowledgment for wearing them. And is a small part of people that set the trend and don’t care they follow their own instincts and set trend for other to follow. A lot of people are lost in the woods of choice and do what they see/is shown.

2&3- A brand like Xerjoff is more playful with their creations, while Cartier has a defined style and target audience-the mature, well-put-together man. Xerjoff, perhaps due to their expansive collection, has ventured further into unisex, bolder, and longer-lasting fragrances. Cartier’s choice for exclusivity is not inherently negative, but it does pose a disadvantage given that the majority of fragrance consumers are women and Gen Z. The age, sex, and lifestyle of the majority of buyers can affect their appeal. Personally, I’ve never fallen in love with fougères, green scents, or other "mature" fragrances. Xerjoff’s flexibility, allowing me to match my fragrance to my mood, the weather, or my wardrobe, is far more appealing to me.

1. I don't rely on a trend, nor am I desperate for compliments, so if only a few people are recommendeding a brand/fragrance, that's okay with me. 2. The brand is never a factor for me. So many people have done Tom Ford lists, and none of the hype has moved me. A reviewer's description of a fragrance's notes and the way they come together will pique my interest more than any brand hype. 3. Perhaps just knowing a fragrance exists helps. Recently, I came across Hermès Eau de Citron Noir, which I didn't know existed, and was intrigued enough to order a sample without any review or RU-vid input. 4. I think historically, fragrance popularity came as a result of intense marketing, resulting in volume sales and awards. Now, there are reviewers and websites, but the basic metric is, and always will be, sales.

1. Current or past hits determine whether I try another scent from the house. TDM and Cartier dont have mass appealing bangers/hits. Tom Ford, PdM, Creed draw attention due to past successes. 2. Xerjoff and Therre d’Hermes have like 4-5 smells in the line. Whereas Xerjoff and Creed have like 20 with lots of variable profiles, not just flankers. If it’s not so, then that’s my subjective perception. 4. For me it’s the users and fragrantica

Hi Justin, love your videos. Personally, I’d love to try a lot of fragrances from less known houses. But in MEXICO (where im from) there is no way to even sample them (or is too expensive, maybe 10 dlls for a ml). So we are stuck with only the commercial stuff.