There comes a time in any fragrance lover’s life when you have to face a harsh reality. You’ve run out of space for your ever-expanding fragrance collection. Again. So much for the several storage expansions. It’s time to start thinking about editing the fragrance collection.
The undeniable truth: I had to accept the that I had run out of space for my lovelies. I could not continue just colonising other shelves occupied by my father’s beloved books.
“I could not continue just colonising other shelves occupied by my father’s beloved books.”
GIVE ME SPACE: What should stay? What should go?
.I had to decide what should stay and what should go. Pronto! In that spirit, I was going to call this post “Culling the fragrance collection”, but that sounded cruel and callous, albeit necessary. So I settled for the more rational and measured “editing”.
Fortunately, this realisation occurred in the run-up to Christmas so I decided editing the fragrance collection should have an altruistic spin, too. That is, the perfumes I no longer wanted would now become gifts.
GOING FOR BROKE: No, smashing my precious perfumes is not part of the editing process. But this particular bottle had to go, as the spray pump was leaking all over the place.
EDITING THE FRAGRANCE COLLECTION: QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS
Editing the fragrance collection wasn’t as easy as it sounds. But I found asking myself these questions below helped me immensely in the decision-making process. I hope they will help you, too, if you’re ever in a similar situation.
Why do I have this particular fragrance?
Does it bring me joy?
Or is it just one of many “nice” fragrances?
NICE. I LIKE YOU… But do I love you?
Does this fragrance have any special associations or memories for me?
When was the last time I actually wore this fragrance?
Why have I not worn it for ages?
Will this fragrance bring more joy to someone else rather than just gathering dust in my collection?
NOT GOING ANYWHERE: Apart from being a superb amber scent, L’Artisan Parfumeur L’Eau d’Ambre reminds me of time spent with family last year. So it’s a keeper for sure.
Will I really notice if this fragrance is no longer in my collection? That is, will I lose sleep over it?
While I am in the editing mode, do I have a sufficient mix of fragrances in my collection, in terms of everyday vs special occasion, fragrance families, etc?
Please let me know how you go about reducing the size of your fragrance collection.
Over the course of my perfume-wearing life I let go of several “good” bottles (vs. those that just went off) – they went to family or close friends – when I knew that they didn’t work for me. Other than that I’m having hard time partying with anything I’ve got. Do I wish I hadn’t bought some of them? Maybe though I’m not 100% sure. I have several bottles gifted to me by others – those I wouldn’t mind not having but I’m keeping them because they were gifts. I will probably pass on somebody else a couple of bottles that I got the same way – passed on by somebody else. But other than that all I can do is to try to slow down adding more perfumes to my collection.
I’m not asking about the exact number, but in %% – how many bottles do you plan to cast out?
Thanks for your comments, Undina. I know how hard it can be to part with one’s perfumes, even when they are not absolute favourites. In my recent edit, I gave away approximately 25 bottles of fragrance as gifts. And I still have a few more to pass on. R
Hello !! loved this post and photos!! Thank you and hope it’s going to be a beautiful good year…full of fragrances and posts!!! happy Monday!!
Thank you so much, Cathi! Hope 2018 is off to a great start for you. Here’s to a year of wonderful changes. R
Hello, I loved this post and photos too. I have many fragrances at home. Depending on mood, I like to wear different fragrances at different moments. The rest I gift away. John
Big thank you, John! It’s all about the mood and can’t think of anything better than passing on the joy to others.