The Case for Pricy Perfumes

I live in one of the most expensive cities (though after my recent trip, I think London’s got NYC beat) and I’m self-employed. In order to keep my head above water (Good Times) I live far where rent isn’t as high, cook as often as I can to avoid dishing out money eating out, and pretty much behave like a miser when it comes to certain purchases. I live pretty commonly. But I’m a beauty and fashion junkie so I tend to like “things.” I used to go overboard but quickly learned that in order for me to have certain freedoms (like being self-employed and running this site and other obligations full time) I couldn’t go crazy with spending. Spend smart, live more. Or something like that…lol.

I can’t afford designer all the time—I have a few designer bags, a thing for designer sunglasses, and some designer clothing I bought in the past but popping tags at Bergdorfs every week? Nope—not me. If I find a designer piece at places like Burlington though, I’m ’bout it. I’m a miser about a lot of things (like I rarely spend more than like $8 on mascara, yet didn’t blink when I bought a $90 lipstick SMH), but there are some categories I do splurge on and I’m sure you can guess the one I’m going to talk about is perfumes since well, uh—that’s the title of this post…lol.

When it comes to perfume, I like my scents to be complex and typically the type of note blends I love come at a higher price tag. But that’s ok—I have no problems wearing a $40 H&M outfit and $200 perfume…lol. I swear the right fragrance makes me feel like my fast fashion basics are couture anyway.

This isn’t to say that I turn my nose up at less expensive scents—I’m still good for a Bath & Body Works BOGO…lol—but when it comes to some of my favorite fragrances, the type of notes, longevity, and feel I get when wearing them, I’m not averse to forking over the extra coins.

Some of My Current Fragrance Faves:

1. Guerlain Gourmand Coquin. (in-rotation right now—I practically accosted Felicia from ThisThatBeauty to ask what she was wearing one day and it was this. I love Gourmand Coquin as one of my fall/winter scents—this was sent to me for review consideration, but I’d fork over my debit card in a heart beat for it). I seriously cannot stop smelling myself when I wear this scent and I encourage you to try it out at a Guerlain counter especially if the notes are up your alley. It’s really quite special :)

Top notes: black pepper
Heart notes: rose
Base notes: rum, chocolate

2. Kilian Playing with the Devil. This was one of my favorite spring/summer scents—it has a citrusy feel to it but it gets complex with the addition of spicy notes.

Notes:

In the opening, an overdose of fruity notes — Blood Orange, Black currant buds, White Peach and Lychee — combined with hot spices — Black Pepper from Madagascar and Pimento Berries— bring the olfactory “forbidden fruit” signature that Killian wanted.

The heart is a woodsy accord — Cedar, Sandalwood, Patchouli — dressed by the femininity of the Rose of May and the more sensual femininity of the Jasmine Sambac from India.

In the dry down, Cistus and Ambrarome were overdosed in a classic oriental accord — Tonka Bean, Benzoin, Vanilla — to bring out the sensuality.

3. Kilian Good Girl Gone Bad. Another fave I reviewed here.

Notes:

Kilian Good Girl Gone Bad opens on the fresh innocence of the petals of Jasmin Sambac and the Apricot sweetness of Chinese Osmanthus. Letting go of their demure appearances, the flowers toss off their inhibitions and reveal their decadent side! The Rose of May gives off its honeyed heat. The Indian Tuberose nakedly exhibits its milky roundness, while the narcotic sensuality of Egyptian Narcissus surges forth, uncontrollable and deliciously haunting. Notes of Virginia Cedar and Amber open up and try to assert their dominant character.

4. Kilian Straight to Heaven. OK, I bet you see a pattern here…lol. This is another Kilian fave—I reviewed it here.

Honorable mention: Bond No. 9 I Love New York for All

Buying Fragrances:

Now, I’m not buying pricy perfumes all willy nilly—there’s levels to this…lol. I can get tired of some scents before long so I need to know I’m fully committed. I’ll go to a fragrance counter and experience it first through a scent card. I’ll go about my business (likely looking at bags and makeup) and if I like how the scent smells after it dries down, then I put some on my pulse points and also try to get a little on my clothing (like a scarf—that way I can have the scent for at least a week or so while I decide).

Then there’s always samples. I even get these of scents I own in full sizes because they’re great for my travel beauty bag.

It might take me a while to decide if I love a fragrance, but if I love it, I’m getting it. I’m currently plotting on Maison Francis Kurkdjian OUD satin mood—another ThisThatBeauty-influenced fragrance.

What are some of your favorite fragrances? Tell me in the comments!