Rediscovering the Joy of Sampling

A friend on this forum recently sent me five samples to try (and before that two other friends sent a few I still have to get to) and I've rediscovered the pure pleasure that comes with trying out some new things.

I was going to start a write up of each of the five scents for this thread, but this other idea started coming to me and it took over what I wanted to say. I'll write another thread on the five.

But wow, what a joy it is to have something new each morning for a week, and have the something new be in little vials even--the small amounts makes for the pleasure really.

I usually get two wearings out of the 1ml vials and I shake them until a few drops are in my cupped palm before spreading it around on my neck, shoulders, and opposite forearm. Then repeat with the other hand. Then run both hands through hair to get any leftover oils from the cracks of my palms spread around the body somehow.

I can't say why, but this seems so much more involved and fun than spraying a few times (although I don't want to give up the ease and perfection of spraying when I buy a bottle of scent). It spreads the scent around on me, and I feel like the scent is dense and down deep in my skin, not just sprayed on. It feels like the scent is trying hard to make me like it, so that I'll buy a bottle, and like the scent is on its best behavior. And the behavior is actually really good. For example, the longevity on my palms is superior. Whenever I pick up the phone in the course of the whole day I get a waft from the palm, and a reminder that the scent is trying to be a nice guy.

Also it's just a joy to have hope each morning that the day's scent will blow me away. I put each on knowing I'm going into a day thinking about the scent and that I'm going to be thinking hard about how it functions through the entire day. What fun! Always I'm hopeful and excited about the prospect, always thinking I'm going to find a new piece of gold.

Each day I'm reminded that I love doing this and that I've forgotten to get into the sample collection much more frequently. Sure, I've got great things in my collection, but they're all tame beasts since I know them. The joy of sampling is that they're untamed beasts and unknown riches.

Now on to write up Royal Oud, Oud Shiny, Fou d'Absinthe, Rien, and Vetiver Dance!
--Chris

You guys remind me also that a few years ago I took a vacation with no scents but samples along. Vacation was a fantastic way to try out samples--new smell in a new place and all that.

I think it was then that I fell for L'Anarchiste, L'Artisan Vetiver, and got turned around on Tabarome Millisime. Also when I rejected L'Artisan Eau du Navigateur.

What a great smell ride that couple weeks of camping was! I think I also rounded it out with four or five samples of Mugler Cologne an SA handed me when I bought my bottle of it, saying they were for trips I took. Pretty cool.

Basenoters who know who they are know I've got to sample the vials they sent me still, and should know I feel like a dolt and jerk for not doing it already. Well now I'm changing.