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Blind Buy Experiences

post #1 of 21
2/27/13 at 12:51am
Thread Starter 
So generally I follow the mantra; try, try again, cogitate, deliberate, buy or not buy....


But as I live in Ireland, I find local stores stock Creeds, Tom Ford Private Blends, Serge Lutens, etc, but not much other niche, certainly not Histoires de Parfums, L'Artisan Parfumer, By Kilian, etc.


So to try more exotic fare requires either travel or ordering samples. So try and get samples when I can but, as we all know sometimes the thrill of the chase get the better of us and we blind buy...


Oh the anticipation of that package... Checking the FedEx tracking notifiction 10 times a day... I may be stupid, but I do love it...


Here are my only 4 blind buys, with outcomes:


L'Artisan Parfumeur Timbuktu
Was romanced by the descriptions of this frag, and when it arrived got a little surprise as there is so much more that just vetiver going on, there is a really pungent incense/rose accord (probably explaining this really badly) that took me aback, it is one of my favorites now for introspective times, not something I will wear every day but, I will always have a bottle, I'd love to go to Timbuktu to see if there is any comparison with the local scent clouds.



By Kilian A Taste of Heaven
Got this based of the notes profile and reviews on here. Love lavender as a note and vanilla, and am not disappointed one bit, my favourite comfort scent, and my SotD. Seriously high quality juice.


Knize Knize Ten
Couldn't get samples and loved the idea of this (liked Tuscan Leather) so though this would be safe. Boy did I get a surprise when it arrived, it was like getting hit with a scent sledge hammer, with that washroom, dirty leather, greasy cloth, floral petroleum vibe. Funnily enough I now really like it, and go for a spray on each hand and back of neck, and it's great. (Never on front of neck, seems better once it has diffused slightly in the air) Stunning drydown too.



Thierry Mugler Mugler Cologne
Couln't find this locally but found this cheap in the UK and bought blind. What can I say, if you want ultra fresh this is the safest blind buy possible. I love it. What's not to like...? Funnily enough from reviews there seems to be something that repulses the occasional person. (Possibly the S-note) 9 out of ten love this, 1 out of can't stand it...?



So, I've been lucky enough, and sorry for rambling on.. Any blind buy experiences you'd like to share?
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post #2 of 21
2/27/13 at 1:09am
L'Artisan Parfumeur Timbuktu,Thierry Mugler Mugler Cologne, and L'Artisan Parfumeur Timbuktu are very nice IMO. Enjoy!
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post #3 of 21
2/27/13 at 3:53am
Mixed experiences here. My best blind buy was my current SOTD, Balafre by Lancôme. My worst was Quorum. At least it was cheap. In general I only blind-buy cheapies. Balafre was an exception, at £115. Three other successful recent blind buys: Monsieur Carven, Pinaud Clubman Special Reserve and Cella Colonia Classica. Approx £12, £12 and £5 respectively. All fantastic.
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post #4 of 21
2/27/13 at 6:49am
M7, Ikon, Midnight in Paris: very pleased with them from A to Z.

Turtle Vetiver Back: The opening is obsene, the drydown is wonderful. My impressions might change with further wearings- only tried it once.

Waiting on Black Afgano. I'll post my verdict here.
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post #5 of 21
2/27/13 at 7:20am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by juanderer View Post

Turtle Vetiver Back: The opening is obsene, the drydown is wonderful. My impressions might change with further wearings- only tried it once.

I had a sample of Turtle Vetiver Front, that I loved (It was rooty, earthy and minty). Have you sampled Front? If so how does Back compare?
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post #6 of 21
2/27/13 at 8:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mick_Trick View Post

I had a sample of Turtle Vetiver Front, that I loved (It was rooty, earthy and minty). Have you sampled Front? If so how does Back compare?

Unfortunately, I didn't get to sample either Front or Exercise No. 1. drseid would be a good person to ask about how Front and Back compare. From what I've read, Back is more "wearable." I wouldn't have categorized it as friendly when I sprayed it on for a full wear, but I got a compliment from someone I interact with often (I dance tango socially) and she'd never complimented me on frags before- needless to say, I was absolutely in awe. My girlfriend did not comment on it and she's usually vocal when she likes something I'm wearing. This was last Monday, I wore that same shirt on Saturday (without washing), and the scent was still very much present and enjoyable. It made me do a second take because I was wearing something completely devoid of vetiver before putting the shirt on.
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post #7 of 21
2/27/13 at 8:34am
my blind buys to date:

THE DREAMER
at first i really liked this. it was my first purchase after joining basenotes. after a few weeks of wearing it though, the opening was too obtrusive to me, and eventually i had to give it away. so in the end, not a good blind buy. but cheap!

ROCHAS MAN
this has been good to me so far. i am going to put it away once the spring hits though, too sweet for the spring/summertime for me.

DHI/LIDGE
these i cannot find anywhere. so, i had to go with the reviews and what other people have said. and man, these are two of my favorites fragrances, i often go back and forth on which one i like more. $65 for DHI and $75 for LIDGE, i would make those investments again and again.

PURE MALT
this is 70/30 good for me. i have worn it about 10 times since i bought it months ago and i like it, but i just dont love it. many people on here love this one, and its something i couldnt test, so i picked it up. i see it possibly being in my winter rotation, possibly not though. im hoping i figure this one out soon.

so overall my blind buys have been a few that i love, a few that i like, and a few that i hate. sounds about right for blind buying.
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post #8 of 21
2/27/13 at 9:09am
Armani Code Ultimate - hate it, love Armani Code though

Midnight in Paris - like it a lot, especially in the dry down

Eau Des Baux Cologne by L'Occitane - for the price, one of the best purchases I have made

DHI - love it, it's an original scent that I enjoy every time I put it on

Pure Malt/Pure Havane - love both and am now contemplating A Taste of Fragrance as well

The Dreamer - also liked it in the beginning but the blast of the top notes was a bit off-putting, so I've put it away for the moment, but I did get it for pretty cheap
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post #9 of 21
2/27/13 at 7:38pm
Great choices for blind buying!
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post #10 of 21
2/27/13 at 8:31pm
My worst blind buy was La Nuit, luckily my brother loved it. Win!
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post #11 of 21
2/27/13 at 9:24pm
i'd say 20% of my blind buys i liked a lot, 20% i didn't like very much and 60% i was nuetral on.
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post #12 of 21
2/28/13 at 7:09pm
None, thank god. I could say I almost blind-bought Green Irish Tweed- Creed..thankfully I managed to get a split of it before buying my 4 oz bottle.
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post #13 of 21
2/28/13 at 7:51pm
Dior Homme vintage, Gucci Pour Homme 1 are the two I've bought that I had absolutely not sniffed before.
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post #14 of 21
3/3/13 at 4:03pm
I almost never blind buy, I am too much of a cheapskate, but I found a great deal on Bn9 New Haarlem and bought it blind. It was "ok" I hate most Bn9's and it was a gamble. Ended up decanting most of it out and selling it, got my money back and had some left over for when I felt extra "gourmand" in the mornings...
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post #15 of 21
3/3/13 at 6:32pm
So far, I've blind bought and smelled Le Male (though I had smelled Cuba Gold before, if that means anything..), Bvlgari Aqva, Body Kouros, and Bang by Marc Jacobs. I like all of them, Le Male is my favourite which I blind bought about 4 years ago, it suits me very well.

Recently, I blind bought CK One Shock, Pure Malt and John Varvatos 10th anniversary. I don't have them right now as they're waiting at my brother's house in Michigan, but when he comes up I will be an eager beaver waiting to try them! Hopefully, I stay at a 100% success rate :P

- - - Updated - - -

So far, I've blind bought and smelled Le Male (though I had smelled Cuba Gold before, if that means anything..), Bvlgari Aqva, Body Kouros, and Bang by Marc Jacobs. I like all of them, Le Male is my favourite which I blind bought about 4 years ago, it suits me very well.

Recently, I blind bought CK One Shock, Pure Malt and John Varvatos 10th anniversary. I don't have them right now as they're waiting at my brother's house in Michigan, but when he comes up I will be an eager beaver waiting to try them! Hopefully, I stay at a 100% success rate :P
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post #16 of 21
3/3/13 at 7:23pm
I've had some great excellent blind buys and some bad ones, along with some excellent blind trades and some bad ones.

Blind bought Wazamba recently and I absolutely love the stuff. It's just what I thought it would be.

Blind bought CDG Peppermint Sherbet at first I loved it, and then the pepper or something started getting to me and I didn't like it as much.

Blind bought LIDGE after all the hype and I was so excited about it but after wearing it multiple times and wanting to like it so much because of all the hype, I didn't love it, and I don't even like it. To my nose it's HEAVY on the pachouli and I'm not the biggest pachouli fan. Oh well, I was able to trade it in a heartbeat.

Blind bought CB I Hate Perfume Gathering Apples and love the stuff. It's so authentic in it's apple/straw basket scent...it's amazing!!

Blind traded for Azzaro Acteur-Yeah, I thought this would actually be a rose fragrance that I liked...nope, in a big way.

I have bought a few more and traded a few others...and, even though I've been burned a few times, I still like doing the blind buy thing, and the blind trade thing is almost a no brainer for me because I figure that if I trade on that I'm not a huge fan of, and get another that I'm not a huge fan of, no loss. But, if I trade for one that I really like, win for me. I blind traded for Monsieur Balmain and love it. Good stuff.
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post #17 of 21
3/3/13 at 8:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skyline View Post

My worst blind buy was La Nuit, luckily my brother loved it. Win!

I love Nuit. What don't you like about it? Just curious
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post #18 of 21
3/3/13 at 8:49pm
I blind bought Creed Aventus and was extremely dissapointed at first. To me the first wiff of it was like "Oh God! what the heck did I do? This smells like an old man's cologne" Then it grew on me and now it is one of my favorites.

My best blind buy was Dior homme intense. I was very pleased when I first smelled it.
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post #19 of 21
3/3/13 at 8:59pm
I've bought a number of smallish decants (5-10ml) blind, but the only full bottle was LIDGE.

I was a bit meh, at first, but grew to love it pretty quickly. Turns out I'm actually a patchouli fan, and the patchouli is beautifully executed in combination with the other notes.
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post #20 of 21
3/3/13 at 9:56pm
1st was Montale's Cuir de Arabie - I sprayed it once on my forearm after I recvd the shipment, it stank and stank for 4 hours before I went and scrubbed it off - I love every other Montale that I have, so I will try this again soon enough.

2nd was Pure Havane - however, I think I might have sniffed it a few yrs ago, but don't recall how i felt. Shipment is yet to arrive.

Thinking of blind buying the entire Mancera's line from Selfridges in the next 1-3 months...
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post #21 of 21
3/4/13 at 5:33pm
My blind buys/swaps winners > Pure Havane, Pure Malt, Egoiste, Amber Absolute, DH/and DHI, LIDGE, MI, VIW, OS, MI, SMW, M7, Rive Gauche, LeMale, Patchouli Leaves, Royal Oud...yes I've been a brave and lucky man...

Duds (for me personally) > BDP, Windsor, Giorgio Beverly Hills, and in the end, Terre d' Hermes. Yep, sacrilege to others, I know.
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