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Artisan - What's wrong with me?

post #1 of 21
6/20/07 at 7:22am
Thread Starter 
Today I went to one of our major department stores (David Jones) to pay a bill. My eagle eye immediately spotted two Artisan scents on sale. Merchant Loup was half price, and Voleur de Roses was a bit less than half price.

So I sprayed some on each hand. Merchant Loup was pretty much as I remembered it. But Voleur de Roses, the scent which I've been very negative towards here for the last three years, suddenly smelled pretty good.

So I bought both. At the checkout, the lady said to me that for being such a good customer, she would be giving me some gifts - which were two 20 or 25ml spray bottles of Artisan's Mure de Musc and Dzongkha.

Then I also got a 3% shareholder discount on the price by using my David Jones card.

So what's wrong with me? Did I suddenly decide I liked the first two scents because,

a. It was a cold, wet, miserable 12ºC day and these scents work better in such conditions, or

b. I appreciate scents much more when they're going cheap?
Renato
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post #2 of 21
6/20/07 at 7:34am
Haven't tried the Roses, but I too, have been "on the fence" about Mechant Loup for a year or so. I like it enough that if I saw it for less than half price, it would push me over the edge too.

Good buy!
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post #3 of 21
6/20/07 at 7:56am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scentronic View Post

Haven't tried the Roses, but I too, have been "on the fence" about Mechant Loup for a year or so. I like it enough that if I saw it for less than half price, it would push me over the edge too.

Good buy!

Thanks. Good to hear that someone else may share my thought processes.
Renato
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post #4 of 21
6/20/07 at 8:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Renato View Post

Today I went to one of our major department stores (David Jones) to pay a bill. My eagle eye immediately spotted two Artisan scents on sale. Merchant Loup was half price, and Voleur de Roses was a bit less than half price.

So I sprayed some on each hand. Merchant Loup was pretty much as I remembered it. But Voleur de Roses, the scent which I've been very negative towards here for the last three years, suddenly smelled pretty good.

So I bought both. At the checkout, the lady said to me that for being such a good customer, she would be giving me some gifts - which were two 20 or 25ml spray bottles of Artisan's Mure de Musc and Dzongkha.

Then I also got a 3% shareholder discount on the price by using my David Jones card.

So what's wrong with me? Did I suddenly decide I liked the first two scents because,

a. It was a cold, wet, miserable 12ºC day and these scents work better in such conditions, or

b. I appreciate scents much more when they're going cheap?
Renato

Oh so YOU'RE the one whose buying those up! I was at DJ contemplating a purchase on Tuesday but... but... but... and in the end I didn't get either. I really love Mechant Loup. I'm sure you smell terrific. Good buy! Not a fan of VdR but maybe the weather makes work.

I would have bought them too... but (I just can't part with my cash). Maybe if I see any Lolita Lempicka L eau de parfum tomorrow I'll buy it. I've been thinking about it... but.... Or maybe there's at least one bottle of ML left.

[Sigh] Decisions.
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post #5 of 21
6/20/07 at 8:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Renato View Post

Today I went to one of our major department stores (David Jones) to pay a bill. My eagle eye immediately spotted two Artisan scents on sale. Merchant Loup was half price, and Voleur de Roses was a bit less than half price.

So I sprayed some on each hand. Merchant Loup was pretty much as I remembered it. But Voleur de Roses, the scent which I've been very negative towards here for the last three years, suddenly smelled pretty good.

So I bought both. At the checkout, the lady said to me that for being such a good customer, she would be giving me some gifts - which were two 20 or 25ml spray bottles of Artisan's Mure de Musc and Dzongkha.

Then I also got a 3% shareholder discount on the price by using my David Jones card.

So what's wrong with me? Did I suddenly decide I liked the first two scents because,

a. It was a cold, wet, miserable 12ºC day and these scents work better in such conditions, or

b. I appreciate scents much more when they're going cheap?
Renato

Renato,

Nothing's wrong with you. Your tastes are evolving, changing, shifting, growing etc. You've never noticed that with regards to other things, such as food for example? It would be a pretty bleak world if we only stuck to those things that we've always been interested in. Don't be so surprise. Enjoy the expansion of sensory joy. Great bargains BTW. Which David Jones was it? The one in the City?

scentemental
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post #6 of 21
6/20/07 at 8:31am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MysteryFemme View Post

Oh so YOU'RE the one whose buying those up! I was at DJ contemplating a purchase on Tuesday but... but... but... and in the end I didn't get either. I really love Merchant Loup. I'm sure you smell terrific. Good buy! Not a fan of VdR but maybe the weather makes work.

I would have bought them too... but (I just can't part with my cash). Maybe if I see any Lolita Lempicka L eau de parfum tomorrow I'll buy it. I've been thinking about it... but.... Or maybe there's at least one bottle of ML left.

[Sigh] Decisions.

You weren't tempted by any of the little $7 bottles of Demeter (Fig, Sex on the Beach, and some other ones) they also had at DJ's Melbourne store?

The 100ml Desperate Housewives EDP going for $19 next door at Myers seemed like good value, but I wasn't sure my wife would like it. At Myers I picked up Obsession Night for Men pretty cheap today too.
Renato
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scentemental View Post

Renato,

Nothing's wrong with you. Your tastes are evolving, changing, shifting, growing etc. You've never noticed that with regards to other things, such as food for example? It would be a pretty bleak world if we only stuck to those things that we've always been interested in. Don't be so surprise. Enjoy the expansion of sensory joy. Great bargains BTW. Which David Jones was it? The one in the City?

scentemental

Yes, my taste in food has changed a bit. But that takes place over decades not years - I turned 30 before I started eating any vegetables other than potatoes.

It was the David Jones' Melbourne store that I was in.
Renato
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post #7 of 21
6/20/07 at 8:42am

Interesting. I think one's sense of smell evolves more readily and radically than one's sense of taste. At least that's been my observation with others. I've always been very catholic in my tastes trying all kinds of cuisines even in my early to mid teens. Perhaps that's because there's a lot more at stake on a primal level with taste and the body/mind is a lot more conservative in this regard, as a result. A kind of safe guard where you stay with works and the pleasure of what works becomes consolidated. There's certainly a greater tendency towards habituation with food than with fragrances. Doctors who try to change their patients' s diets for health reasons will tell you it's one of the hardest things to get people to do. Whereas, with regards to olfaction, it's all about pleasure and intense pleasure to be sure and tastes seem to evolve more rapidly. I am sure that there are many Basenoters who can attest to the latter phenomenon. Just some random thoughts.

I hope these days you readily enjoy Melbourne's large array of wonderfully fresh and vibrant fruits and vegetables. It's one of my favorite things about Melbourne.

scentemental
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post #8 of 21
6/20/07 at 8:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Renato View Post

You weren't tempted by any of the little $7 bottles of Demeter (Fig, Sex on the Beach, and some other ones) they also had at DJ's Melbourne store?
Renato

Of course I was tempted but the plethora of choices floored me and I walked out with nothing. On second thought, maybe my wallet is grateful!
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post #9 of 21
6/20/07 at 8:48am
The weather could have had an effect. Some fragrances transform and reveal hidden sides in different temperature/weather conditions. It happened to me most recently with Dior Homme.

The price could also be a reason - there are many fragrances which I like enough to buy at half price, but not full retail.
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post #10 of 21
6/20/07 at 8:55am
It is so much easier to like something more when it costs way less than you remember it. I know that I am so much more ready to buy when I get a good deal.

I own both of those and I love them. Good buy! Two great scents for great prices... who could argue with that.

It might be a phase that you all of the sudden like VdR. It could be weather and just a new chance to smell something old and gain a new perspective on it.
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post #11 of 21
6/20/07 at 9:02am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by scentemental View Post


Interesting. I think one's sense of smell evolves more readily and radically than one's sense of taste. At least that's been my observation with others. I've always been very catholic in my tastes trying all kinds of cuisines even in my early to mid teens. Perhaps that's because there's a lot more at stake on a primal level with taste and the body/mind is a lot more conservative in this regard as a result. A kind of safe guard where you stay with works. Whereas, with regards to olfaction, it's all about pleasure and intense pleasure to be sure. Just a thought.

scentemental

Now that I think about it, you are probably right. For a long time, all I really liked were fougeres, and I didn't buy any of those strange leathery chypres and sweet orientals. But after forcing myself to test and try, I grew very fond of orientals (even Le Male) and thought the chypres pretty interesting.

In fact, I grew to like ranges of scents far more quickly than I did with vegetables and other odd foods - I can try them all I like, but I'll never like pumpkin, spinach, brussels sprouts, tomatoes, garlic, caviar, mussels, fish with bones, sushi rolls, duck, chicken skin and oysters in their shell (but smoked oysters on cracker biscuits are okay).
Renato
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zztopp View Post

The weather could have had an effect. Some fragrances transform and reveal hidden sides in different temperature/weather conditions. It happened to me most recently with Dior Homme.

The price could also be a reason - there are many fragrances which I like enough to buy at half price, but not full retail.

Good point. I must check Dior Homme again - a lot of rave reviews here, and I just gave it a quick "Ho Hum" the only time I tested it.
Renato
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post #12 of 21
6/20/07 at 9:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Renato View Post

I must check Dior Homme again - a lot of rave reviews here, and I just gave it a quick "Ho Hum" the only time I tested it.
Renato

Allow me to enable you. I love Dior Homme. It smells like a gentleman should and I don't know anyone who wears it.
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post #13 of 21
6/20/07 at 9:44am
out of topic- few days ago I got a "compliment" about my Voleur de Roses: "it smells sour. Girls do not like such scents"
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post #14 of 21
6/20/07 at 10:29am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by EnvYuS View Post

It is so much easier to like something more when it costs way less than you remember it. I know that I am so much more ready to buy when I get a good deal.

I own both of those and I love them. Good buy! Two great scents for great prices... who could argue with that.

It might be a phase that you all of the sudden like VdR. It could be weather and just a new chance to smell something old and gain a new perspective on it.


In the case of VdR I think it really could be the weather. I remember having a similar reaction to Issey and Kouros when I first tested them in winter - I thought they were pretty awful. But they became magic summer favourites, which remained smelling pretty good when the next winter came around (though I still didn't wear them in winter).

Merchant Loup I was never averse to, other than for that price it didn't last long enough.
Renato
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DreamerII View Post

out of topic- few days ago I got a "compliment" about my Voleur de Roses: "it smells sour. Girls do not like such scents"

I guess that would qualify VdR as a scent that wives should give serious consideration to buying for their husbands (as an office scent, that is).
Renato
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post #15 of 21
6/20/07 at 10:32am
Renato, nice score on those L'Artisans. VdR has been on my to buy list for a very long time-- it's certainly an odd fragrance, but wonderful. There's a lot of patchouli in it, which may take some people by surprise. Also, that soil note is hit or miss with some people, but I think it's great. It gives the nose a lot to "chew on".

Mechant Loup is awesome as well. Awhile back I saw a lone bottle of it at Neiman Marcus and it was marked at about $20 off regular price so I bought it-- they didn't have ANY other L'Artisans, not sure how this bottle came to be there. Plus they ripped me off, I found out later that they had charged me full price and then didn't even give me a receipt. I'm never going back there again!

But anyway, I think Mechant Loup will fit your style. I know it suits me well-- though it is one I reserve for rainy days (although VdR is the BEST rainy day scent of all time-- next time it rains, try it!). Mechant Loup is warm yet bracing, like a hot cup of coffee with B&B in it, sitting alone reading a book. A nice touch of myrrh and sandalwood. A real comfort scent.

Nice grabs!
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post #16 of 21
6/20/07 at 10:37am
I actually have to be careful to brashly swap away frags that I know I like when they aren't "in season" for me. I swapped away Bvlgari Aqva last winter when it suddenly smelled terrible to me and I didn't want to wear it. This summer, I had a CRAVING for it, so I had to get it again, and I like it. I won't be making that mistake again.

About the Artisans, I rather like them too (especially VdR) but they never seem to last longer than 3 or so hours on me. Even so, I'd have to invest in a bottle at that price. An excellent find!

PS. Dior Homme is one of my favorites. Works for me in any season, but I have to admit that it's slightly better in winter. Give it another try...the drydown is fantastic!
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post #17 of 21
6/20/07 at 10:37am
I actually have not to be careful to brashly swap away frags that I know I like when they aren't "in season" for me. I swapped away Bvlgari Aqva last winter when it suddenly smelled terrible to me and I didn't want to wear it. This summer, I had a CRAVING for it, so I had to get it again, and I like it. I won't be making that mistake again.

About the Artisans, I rather like them too (especially VdR) but they never seem to last longer than 3 or so hours on me. Even so, I'd have to invest in a bottle at that price. An excellent find!

PS. Dior Homme is one of my favorites. Works for me in any season, but I have to admit that it's slightly better in winter. Give it another try...the drydown is fantastic!
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post #18 of 21
6/20/07 at 10:47am
I had the priviledge of sampling all of their wares at the recent Bnotes soire in Chicago. My girlfriend fell in love with VdR which I can admire for it's originality but find it unwearable as I do with most of their scents. The lone exception being Dzing which I'm still trying to get my nose around.
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post #19 of 21
6/20/07 at 10:55am
VdR is a really artistic scent, for me THE scent of melancholy and decay. These feelings belong in my soul to autumn, so I wouldn't really enjoy this scent in this summer heat.
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post #20 of 21
8/7/07 at 7:48am
I don't know about Méchant Loup, but VdR is only a cool/cold weather fragrance for me. The sour note people speak of seems to reveal itself more readily in the warmer weather.
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post #21 of 21
8/7/07 at 5:40pm
I've certainly done "180s" on a number of scents, including Santal Noble, Ambre Sultan, Black Aoud, Iris Bleu Gris, and Muscs Kublai Khan. I do wonder if the weather didn't help in your case. I enjoy Mechant Loup, but I find it especially comforting in cold, wet weather.
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