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your vintage "dream perfume" at an antique store....

post #1 of 29
3/14/08 at 8:51am
Thread Starter 
Let's pretend you find a bottle of a scent you absolutely love in an antique store. You've just had a mini of this for years and were waiting for the day when you'd find a treasured bottle. Let's say the scent is from the 60's.

This scent has been discontinued for many years and is absolutely nowhere to be found on the internet. The storage and history are unknown, although it looks well preserved (color okay, doesn't really look "used"- the cellophane, if it ever existed, is off the box) and you can open the outer box to see the full bottle of scent. Formulation of the scent is unknown (EDT, cologne, parfum).

The asking price is just below 100$. The store does not guarantee anything about the perfume as they have had customers complain about vintage scents smelling "off" and then want to return them. So, once you puchase, it's yours.

It's your dream vintage scent. You will probably not have a chance to find / wear another bottle in your lifetime. Do you buy it? Or do you move on?
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post #2 of 29
3/14/08 at 8:54am
you buy it, who cares at least you get the cool bottle
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post #3 of 29
3/14/08 at 9:01am
Could you not sneak a sniff in the shop? lol

It depends how badly you wanted the scent. The bottle will still look good even if the juice has gone bad. I'd probably buy it and if I wasn't happy when I got home I'd more than likely flog it on ebay!
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post #4 of 29
3/14/08 at 12:04pm
I don't go for bottles, I go for the contents, so unless I can try it on my skin, I walk away. (who really believes that?)
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post #5 of 29
3/14/08 at 12:11pm
Thread Starter 
You've tried the scent on from your mini and it is your dream scent.

But that bottle of vintage "seems to never have been opened"; the store doesn't seem interested in tearing into it.

BTW, the bottle is not especially beautiful or unusual with this scent. I doubt anyone would be purchasing for the bottle, but I'm not a bottle collector, so I don't know - but sincerely doubt it.
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post #6 of 29
3/14/08 at 12:20pm
...where do I go to give the guy/gal the $100???????
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post #7 of 29
3/14/08 at 12:27pm
A dream perfume? I'd buy it. I may never get the chance again and, who knows, the perfume might be fine. To walk away would leave me wondering, What if.............?
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post #8 of 29
3/14/08 at 12:35pm
I would probably buy it. Especially if it was Colony extrait or Diorling.
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post #9 of 29
3/14/08 at 12:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by seattlelight View Post

You've tried the scent on from your mini and it is your dream scent.

But that bottle of vintage "seems to never have been opened"; the store doesn't seem interested in tearing into it.

BTW, the bottle is not especially beautiful or unusual with this scent. I doubt anyone would be purchasing for the bottle, but I'm not a bottle collector, so I don't know - but sincerely doubt it.

If it has never been opened then there is a good chance that the scent is still good!

I say buy it!
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post #10 of 29
3/14/08 at 1:58pm
I would buy it. Handing over the $100 in hot and cold flushes, but I would buy. Otherwise I would regret it - and I would truly prefer to know the scent went bad to never knowing & forever wondering and regretting. Wishing you all the luck in the world!
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post #11 of 29
3/14/08 at 2:07pm
Just buy it, and let us in on the secret. Which scent is it????? We won't tell
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post #12 of 29
3/14/08 at 2:58pm
Considering the only unopened bottle that I know exists of my dream perfume is going for $2500.00, I'd take the risk in a heartbeat.

Excuse me while I run over to my dwindling vial. After rationing it for about 10 years, I can't imagine what I'd do with a full bottle.
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post #13 of 29
3/14/08 at 5:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chaelaran1008 View Post

A dream perfume? I'd buy it. I may never get the chance again and, who knows, the perfume might be fine. To walk away would leave me wondering, What if.............?


I agree with chaelaran and most everyone else, how could you possibly pass up this opportunity? I have fragrances that are well over twenty years old and they are just fine.

You will berate yourself forever if you don't buy it.

If it isn't what you expected, you won't berate yourself over $100 for very long.
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post #14 of 29
3/14/08 at 6:46pm
I buy it without a second thought ... $100 is nothing for a dream.
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post #15 of 29
3/14/08 at 7:57pm
Buy it.
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post #16 of 29
3/15/08 at 1:15am
I wouldn't even have to think about it. I would buy it in a heartbeat. Even if the juice sucks, I would have the bottle to remind me of what use to be. I tend to be very sentimental. I still have my empty bottle of my beloved Que Viva sitting on my vanity. I just can't throw that bottle away.
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post #17 of 29
3/15/08 at 5:34am
I'm dying to know what this perfume is.......Please tell!
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post #18 of 29
3/15/08 at 10:07am
I try not to allow myself to indulge in searches for discontinued fragrances. For me, it is like prolonging a goodbye that I know is inevitable. I have learned my lesson with my love for red lipstick. And no, they are not all the same. When I find one that is the perfect shade, the perfect texture, etc., it is inevitably discontinued. As soon as I fall in love with a new red lipstick, I continue the search for a second. One must move on, not linger. Too bad I wasn't so firm with my first husband!
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post #19 of 29
3/15/08 at 10:43am
Let us say it is Guerlain's Djedi or Fath's Iris Gris for a $100? I will whip out that credit card in a flash!

Do let us in your secret treasure. We are eager to know.
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post #20 of 29
3/15/08 at 2:09pm
I must be getting stingy in my old age because unless I know it has not turned I'm not handing over $100!!!
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post #21 of 29
3/15/08 at 3:09pm
Buy it!
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post #22 of 29
3/15/08 at 3:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Therese View Post

I continue the search for a second. One must move on, not linger. Too bad I wasn't so firm with my first husband!

I know that it was meant in all seriousness, still made me laugh !

Back on topic though, I don't have a 'dream perfume' that's been discontinued, but say, if I found Bois Noir (love egoiste) Nombre Noir (just really want to try it, see what all the fuss is about) or something like Patou pour Homme or Versailles pour Homme, I would take it, just to say, ha i've got it !
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post #23 of 29
3/15/08 at 5:19pm
Thread Starter 
Dulci - are you a psychic? It is a Patou, I'll tell you which one later. For all I know, I could have purchased some colored water. Oh, well, I've purchased lousier smelling things that have cost far more!

The "check is in the mail" so to speak. I'll let you know what it is and what condition it's in as soon as it arrives.

I enjoyed reading your advice - thank you so much for the comments and encouragement.
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post #24 of 29
3/15/08 at 5:58pm
I have done this on several occasions, for Zibeline, for Scandal and for Quadrille parfums. Every time I was thrilled. I also bought a Guerlain bottle that turned out to be a big old factice, the ebay seller refunded 90% of my money. It is a lovely factice...lol.

Let us know all the details!

...and would I do it again? In a heartbeat!!!
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post #25 of 29
3/16/08 at 1:06am
Yes, I'd buy it.
Buying it reeks of hope, of dreaming, of optimism. Even if it's off, it represents your belief in the possibility of things turning out well, and isn't it worth the money just for that?
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post #26 of 29
3/16/08 at 3:23am
You throw the money at the shop owner and run out of the store cackling and caressing the bottle muttering, "my pretty...my pretty..."
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post #27 of 29
3/16/08 at 11:42am
ooo a vintage Patou! One of my favorite houses. I've got my fingers crossed for you that it is still good.
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post #28 of 29
3/16/08 at 12:20pm
Absolutely, esp. if it was vintage Tabac Blond or a Caron Urn fragrance. I would buy it and then pray the jus was still good!
I'm excited to hear what you receive! Good Luck!
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post #29 of 29
3/16/08 at 1:41pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks, everyone, for the comments. The customer service thus far has been incredibly responsive. I'm hoping to have the purchase in 7-10 days and will follow up.

Wordbird, your philosophy is spot on. Thank you!
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