Hello Old Friend / Goodbye Old Friend

Yesterday, as I was doing some re-arranging in my scent storage, an item emerged that hadn't seen the light of day for a while - Esprit du Roi, a discontinued Penhaligon's. EdR is in the classic eau de cologne vein, but is not built around citrus notes sharp as razor blades. Don't know the exact notes, but I'd say lime for the top, a subtle floral/herbal mix in the middle, and a drydown that reminded me of Eau de Patou's in the soft incense echo. There was a nice hit of quinine in there too - just enough to give the lime a powdery outline, but not so much that it became the signature identity.

I was clean from a long shower and hadn't put on a scent yet at that point in the day. It was looking to be a very warm, dry day with a bit of a breeze. Esprit du Roi was calling out to me with all its qualifications to be the perfect SOTD. But .....there was only enough in the bottle for a full day's wear, no more than that. I hesitated. I knew I hadn't worn this in a long time because it was discontinued and I didn't want to lose it forever. But wasn't I "losing" the fragrance anyway, because I hadn't worn the last usable portion even as it slept and slowly evaporated molecule by molecule in its bottle?

What would you have done?

Well, I went at it with relish - sprayed freely, the way an edc should be employed. Reveled in it. Enjoyed the development and drydown like a good book. Received a nice compliment from an acquaintance who leaned in for a hug and a whiff. There was a trace left at bedtime, which I topped up with the very last squirt left. It accompanied my drifting off to sleep. Today the bottle is completely empty, but I don't regret it - we had a lovely last day together.

Have you ever had to make a decision like this?

Thanks guys, I appreciate the responses. There have been many times when I endeavored to save a few drops of something very special. But remember that even in a bottle, inside a box, in a cabinet away from light and heat, the processes of evaporation and physical deterioration are inexorable, albeit slowed as much as possible. Especially for an edc like Esprit du Roi, the chances of keeping it "forever" - whatever your definition of that might be, are pretty slim. I'd rather that it went out in glory, playing itself out on the warmth of skin, a companion to one person's day. I'll save the bottle for a while, though - the stopper still smells delicious!

This experience reminds me of a story I read a long while back about an arborist who tended a heritage tree for many years, through injuries and ailments, until it became an unjustifiable hazard and was dying from the inside out. On the day that he had to chop down this much-loved tree, he celebrated its life and significance in various acts, one of which was to don a silk top hat for the occasion along with his climbing gear. I thought that was a very respectful gesture and always remembered it.