2008 was when I actually started digging in and getting obsessed with perfumes thanks to Basenotes. 
It's been a great journey and this is a recap of the different memorable events and mishaps that had happened and how my taste (and yours) is at the end of the year: I admit that this post is pretty self-indulgent, but I enjoyed writing it down so I'm sure you will too. I'd also love to see how your "fragrance exploration expedition" has been for the past year.. 
Favorite Perfumers Then: Never heard of 'em and didn't really care who made what.
Favorite Perfumers Now: Pierre Guillaume, Jean Claude Ellena, Christopher Sheldrake
Samples gone through: No such thing as too much.
People converted: Girlfriend, friend at university, mom still in "conversion process"
Bottles owned then: about 30?
Bottles owned now: 49
Bottles sold between then and now: more than 25 (mass-renovation!)
Favorite Purchase of the Year: Cuir d'Iris, Felanilla, Gris Clair, Douce Amere
"Which I Hadn't Bought It" Purchase of the Year:
- By Kilian Straight to Heaven (would rather spent that kind of cash on a Guerlain.... or an iPod)
- Serge Lutens Serge Noire (don't get me wrong, it's a nice scent -- I just never find myself reaching for it)
Favorite Blind-buy of the Year: L'artisan Bois Farine
Least Favorite Blind-buy of the Year: Odori Tabacco, PdN Maharadjah
Bargain of the Year: ... Many thanks to Basenoters for lots of nice deals
Rip-off / "Blooper-buy" of the Year: Buying Un Crime Exotique 50ml from Luckyscent at the same price as a 100ml bottle from The Perfume Shoppe
The Line that went from "meh" to love --> Serge Lutens, Guerlain
The Line that went from love to "meh" --> Comme des Garcons, Creed
The Line that went from "meh to "even more meh" --> Montale
The Line that went from "I never heard of them" to love --> Parfumerie Generale
Favorite notes then: Aquatic molecules, tea, herbal-citrus accords, licorice, cinnamon, vanilla
Favorite notes now: Iris/orris, amber, leather, vetiver, benzoin, anything rich and sumptuous, gourmand notes, Sheldrake syrup, sandalwood, boozy notes, vanilla, resins
Least favorite notes then: Leather, anything green, vetiver, white flowers, labdanum, oppoponax, anything that makes me think I smell like an old man/lady
Least favorite notes now: CDG's House Accord, anything that makes me think I smell like a high school kid drenched in Axe/Lynx
"I can not smell/use this because of __insert personal reason__" : Hypnose Homme, Must de Cartier, Nasomatto Absinthe (cause: illness association?)
========================================
And now... here are my top lists: (omit if you like, I just added 'em for fun)
My First Top 10: (Devoted to Niche Perfumery)
Parfumerie Generale Cuir d'Iris
Parfumerie Generale Felanilla
Serge Lutens Gris Clair
Serge Lutens Chergui
Serge Lutens Douce Amere
Serge Lutens Vetiver Oriental
Profumum Fumidus
Knize Ten
Profumum Dulcis in Fundo
L'artisan Bois Farine
Honorable Mention:
Amouage Homage (for being something I really wished I had the money to buy)
CDG x Monocle Scent One: Hinoki (for its woodiness many of us love)
Etro Messe de Minuit (for being one of the best incense frags)
Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist (for being the benchmark iris)
Lostmarc'h Lann'ael (for being so gosh darnnit yummy)
My Second Top 10: (Devoted to Designer 'Exclusifs')
Guerlain Bois d'Armenie
Guerlain Les Charnels Oriental Brulant
Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille
Guerlain No. 68
Chanel Coromandel
Chanel Sycomore
Hermessence Ambre Narguile
Hermessence Vetiver Tonka
Dior Bois d'Argent
Prada Cuir Ambre
Honorable Mention:
Armani Prive Bois d'Encens (for being an Avignon that actually sills and envelopes the wearer)
And now.. the Final Top 10: (Devoted to Designer Scents)
Dior Homme Intense
HL Cuiron & Men
L'occitane Eau des Baux
Yohji Homme
Guerlain Heritage
Estee Lauder Youth Dew Amber Nude
DK Fuel for Men
YSL Opium PH
Burberry London
Patou PH
And a bonus "Woo the Chics at University/Workplace" Top 5:
Idole de Lubin
Chanel Allure Homme Sport
L'eau d'Issey PH (already a classic)
Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin
By Kilian Straight to Heaven (hey, why not)
Biggest Disappointments (for me):
Parfums de Nicolai New York
Montale Aromatic Lime, Aoud Lime
Cereus PH No. 7 No. 4 and No. 11
The entire ODORI line
CDG Synthetic Line
I'd love to hear how you guys (and girls) did in your journey for your 2008 B.E. expedition.
Feel free to post whatever comes to mind. Oh, and happy new year and may the next year be filled with countless discoveries of hidden treasures still left unsniffed. Yarr!
It's been a great journey and this is a recap of the different memorable events and mishaps that had happened and how my taste (and yours) is at the end of the year: I admit that this post is pretty self-indulgent, but I enjoyed writing it down so I'm sure you will too. I'd also love to see how your "fragrance exploration expedition" has been for the past year.. Favorite Perfumers Then: Never heard of 'em and didn't really care who made what.
Favorite Perfumers Now: Pierre Guillaume, Jean Claude Ellena, Christopher Sheldrake
Samples gone through: No such thing as too much.
People converted: Girlfriend, friend at university, mom still in "conversion process"
Bottles owned then: about 30?
Bottles owned now: 49
Bottles sold between then and now: more than 25 (mass-renovation!)
Favorite Purchase of the Year: Cuir d'Iris, Felanilla, Gris Clair, Douce Amere
"Which I Hadn't Bought It" Purchase of the Year:
- By Kilian Straight to Heaven (would rather spent that kind of cash on a Guerlain.... or an iPod)
- Serge Lutens Serge Noire (don't get me wrong, it's a nice scent -- I just never find myself reaching for it)
Favorite Blind-buy of the Year: L'artisan Bois Farine
Least Favorite Blind-buy of the Year: Odori Tabacco, PdN Maharadjah
Bargain of the Year: ... Many thanks to Basenoters for lots of nice deals
Rip-off / "Blooper-buy" of the Year: Buying Un Crime Exotique 50ml from Luckyscent at the same price as a 100ml bottle from The Perfume Shoppe
The Line that went from "meh" to love --> Serge Lutens, Guerlain
The Line that went from love to "meh" --> Comme des Garcons, Creed
The Line that went from "meh to "even more meh" --> Montale
The Line that went from "I never heard of them" to love --> Parfumerie Generale
Favorite notes then: Aquatic molecules, tea, herbal-citrus accords, licorice, cinnamon, vanilla
Favorite notes now: Iris/orris, amber, leather, vetiver, benzoin, anything rich and sumptuous, gourmand notes, Sheldrake syrup, sandalwood, boozy notes, vanilla, resins
Least favorite notes then: Leather, anything green, vetiver, white flowers, labdanum, oppoponax, anything that makes me think I smell like an old man/lady
Least favorite notes now: CDG's House Accord, anything that makes me think I smell like a high school kid drenched in Axe/Lynx
"I can not smell/use this because of __insert personal reason__" : Hypnose Homme, Must de Cartier, Nasomatto Absinthe (cause: illness association?)
========================================
And now... here are my top lists: (omit if you like, I just added 'em for fun)
My First Top 10: (Devoted to Niche Perfumery)
Parfumerie Generale Cuir d'Iris
Parfumerie Generale Felanilla
Serge Lutens Gris Clair
Serge Lutens Chergui
Serge Lutens Douce Amere
Serge Lutens Vetiver Oriental
Profumum Fumidus
Knize Ten
Profumum Dulcis in Fundo
L'artisan Bois Farine
Honorable Mention:
Amouage Homage (for being something I really wished I had the money to buy)
CDG x Monocle Scent One: Hinoki (for its woodiness many of us love)
Etro Messe de Minuit (for being one of the best incense frags)
Serge Lutens Iris Silver Mist (for being the benchmark iris)
Lostmarc'h Lann'ael (for being so gosh darnnit yummy)
My Second Top 10: (Devoted to Designer 'Exclusifs')
Guerlain Bois d'Armenie
Guerlain Les Charnels Oriental Brulant
Guerlain Spiritueuse Double Vanille
Guerlain No. 68
Chanel Coromandel
Chanel Sycomore
Hermessence Ambre Narguile
Hermessence Vetiver Tonka
Dior Bois d'Argent
Prada Cuir Ambre
Honorable Mention:
Armani Prive Bois d'Encens (for being an Avignon that actually sills and envelopes the wearer)
And now.. the Final Top 10: (Devoted to Designer Scents)
Dior Homme Intense
HL Cuiron & Men
L'occitane Eau des Baux
Yohji Homme
Guerlain Heritage
Estee Lauder Youth Dew Amber Nude
DK Fuel for Men
YSL Opium PH
Burberry London
Patou PH
And a bonus "Woo the Chics at University/Workplace" Top 5:
Idole de Lubin
Chanel Allure Homme Sport
L'eau d'Issey PH (already a classic)
Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin
By Kilian Straight to Heaven (hey, why not)
Biggest Disappointments (for me):
Parfums de Nicolai New York
Montale Aromatic Lime, Aoud Lime
Cereus PH No. 7 No. 4 and No. 11
The entire ODORI line
CDG Synthetic Line
I'd love to hear how you guys (and girls) did in your journey for your 2008 B.E. expedition.
Feel free to post whatever comes to mind.
Oh, and happy new year and may the next year be filled with countless discoveries of hidden treasures still left unsniffed. Yarr!
