My girlfriend and I visited the Perfume House in Portland, Oregon yesterday and walked out with a few samples to contemplate before making our purchases. Or, more accurately, purchases I would be making. 
However, there is one problem... the only scents that she outwardly expressed interest for were far higher than my budget can handle! What i'm looking for is some help in finding more affordable alternatives to these scents. I hate the idea of choosing "inferior" scents and I realize some are unique due to the exclusivity of some of the ingredients available for use only by the super high-end design Houses (auods for Montale, for example). However, part of me believes she was made her decisions in part with the idea of associating cost with what she likes. In other words, she found something she liked, found it was expensive (read: exclusive) and no longer was interested in less expensive scents. And of course our SA was more than happy to indulge her expensive taste and brush aside my concerns. *sigh*
With that said, here is what she liked, most to least:
- Clive Christian 1872 for Women (a lot)
- Rancé Joséphine (though she's now wavering on this one, "too powdery")
- Motale Wood - Spices, Black Aoud and Royal Aoud (she didn't seem to gravitate more toward one than the others)
- Carthusia Aria di Capri (I can afford this one, but she only "liked" it. She was much more wowed by the above.)
If it's any help, here's what she currently owns:
- Lancôme Trésor
- Hermès Un Jardin sur le Nil (her every day frag)
- Chanel Coco
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
However, there is one problem... the only scents that she outwardly expressed interest for were far higher than my budget can handle! What i'm looking for is some help in finding more affordable alternatives to these scents. I hate the idea of choosing "inferior" scents and I realize some are unique due to the exclusivity of some of the ingredients available for use only by the super high-end design Houses (auods for Montale, for example). However, part of me believes she was made her decisions in part with the idea of associating cost with what she likes. In other words, she found something she liked, found it was expensive (read: exclusive) and no longer was interested in less expensive scents. And of course our SA was more than happy to indulge her expensive taste and brush aside my concerns. *sigh*
With that said, here is what she liked, most to least:
- Clive Christian 1872 for Women (a lot)
- Rancé Joséphine (though she's now wavering on this one, "too powdery")
- Motale Wood - Spices, Black Aoud and Royal Aoud (she didn't seem to gravitate more toward one than the others)
- Carthusia Aria di Capri (I can afford this one, but she only "liked" it. She was much more wowed by the above.)
If it's any help, here's what she currently owns:
- Lancôme Trésor
- Hermès Un Jardin sur le Nil (her every day frag)
- Chanel Coco
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
