perfume updates + reviews

let's fast forward to [redacted number] samples later

Hoo boy. Since last we spoke on this subject I really shot off the deep end. It got to the point where I started using a sobriety app on my phone called “Days Since” to get me to stop purchasing samples. I couldn’t even smell them! I had a headache! For over a month! Though I’ll admit to indulging during one of my rounds of antibiotics. (It seems to be on the run now so I guess I’ll confront my inbox.)

Anyway… some takeaways (for now):

• If they can’t stand up on their own, stick your samples in ammo boxes. I got this tip from Reddit. This trick absolutely cannot be allowed to leak over to the “I’m just a girl” side of the internet…. But it works and being able to store my dabber vials right side up dramatically cut down on the “department store counter” smell my bathroom was developing.

• It’s fun to explore indie stuff. Very YMMV but there’s a kind of “yes… yes…” feeling I get when confronted with some indie perfume website that looks like it hasn’t been updated since the aughts and has a giant list of scents you have to scroll through.¹ Or, if you’re Perfumes of the Desert, possibly your website has not been updated since… like… 1999.

• I really want to learn more about notes in a more systematic way. Working through these seems like fun. This kit also seems interesting. Also, not about learning notes really, but I think I’m going to save up and order this sampler. (Given that you have to pay for shipping from Germany, it seems like you might as well Go Big.)

Because I got (mumble mumble mumble) samples I am going to put down some thoughts but split the posts up by house (or houses, in cases where I have only have one or two from some place). Obviously, this will take a long time. You can see (more or less) what is on the roster by looking here, though I did get some from places, like Perfumes of the Desert and Sunsphere, that seem to be too small or too new to have been added on Parfumo (let alone Fragrantica where very small brands aren’t really represented much at all).

Why do these write-ups when I don’t know that much myself, you ask?

That’s easy.

I want to be able to write these purchases off on my taxes.

But also to learn. The learning part too. Yes.

I’m going to paywall these, not because I know that much but really because I don’t—some of these outfits are so small and I hate the idea of something I wrote trying to figure out how to smell stuff haunting their search results. So if you want to read these but can’t afford to subscribe, let me know and we can work something out.

But for now, let’s begin with the one that started it all… little indie outfit Cocoapink.

Scents discussed under the jump: Beach, Briarwood Meadow, Butterfly Forest, Cinderella’s Carriage, Climbing Star Jasmine, Coeur de Vahiné, Curaçao, Desert Twilight, English Cathedral, Ibiza Trance, Lipstick Stains, Loreley’s Song, Magnetic, Midsummer Heatwave, Santal et Violette, The Un-Red, Velveteen Bloom. All of these samples were oils and all were tested by actually wearing them (unless otherwise noted). Also… these are all very, very girly. Links provided where one can.