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Beware of these fragrances: Do never buy them blind

post #1 of 90
3/15/13 at 8:41pm
Thread Starter 
Here I will list all fragrances that made me feel sick. Really sick (physically sick). I invite you guys to do the same. :

Michael Kors
Egoiste
The topnotes in Heritage
Rive Gauche
Z-14
Grey Flannel
Canoe
Angel Men

I had to wash them off of my skin and gave them for free immediately.
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post #2 of 90
3/15/13 at 9:01pm
I like Rive Gauche and Egoiste, but I agree that they aren't the safest blind buys out there.

Actually, there's no fragrance that's a guarenteed safe blind buy.
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post #3 of 90
3/15/13 at 9:11pm
I personally like and own the three below from the OP's list. Furthermore, personally have no qualms about buying anything blind that I want in my collection.


Egoiste
Heritage
Rive Gauche
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post #4 of 90
3/15/13 at 9:29pm
I blind-buy fragrances often. It's a hit and miss game, but when I want a certain one, I get it. I'll buy scents based on reviews, bottle design, brand, perfumer, fragrance name, company name, etc. Sometimes a flight of fancy will bring surprisingly pleasant results, or an irritating headache.
I also personally like a few of the scents listed, especially Egoiste.
A blind buy involving anything to do with Lacoste always proves to be a stupid mistake for me... you learn as you go.
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post #5 of 90
3/15/13 at 9:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanielPlainview View Post

Here I will list all fragrances that made me feel sick. Really sick (physically sick). I invite you guys to do the same. :

Michael Kors
Egoiste
The topnotes in Heritage
Rive Gauche
Z-14
Grey Flannel
Canoe


I had to wash them off of my skin and gave them for free immediately.

That's quite a broad range of good stuff that makes you sick. What doesn't make you sick?

For me, there have been very few that I could not take the smell of. These include Montale's Aoud Cuir d'Arabie and ELDO Secretions Magnifiques.

That was a while back though. Many other things I didn't like at first I now really enjoy. I think my perception of those 2 ^^ may be different now.
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post #6 of 90
3/16/13 at 12:55am
There are far worse smells out there than a perfume I don't like - never smelled a perfume that made me physically sick.
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post #7 of 90
3/16/13 at 1:01am
I know I will catch some heat for this but I blind bought Chypre Palatin and it made me extremely nauseous so I ended up swapping it.
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post #8 of 90
3/16/13 at 1:42am
Rive Gauche is pretty cheap, so blind should be okay. If you dont like it, will be easy to sell, I think.
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post #9 of 90
3/16/13 at 2:32am
Musc ravageur, I was determined to buy blindly for the good feedback from here, but I ordered a decantation and I hate the first few minutes of this fragrance is unbearable for me.
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post #10 of 90
3/16/13 at 2:51am
I like or love almost every fragrance on your list... As to fragrances physically making me sick I can only think of one that did that and it was Secretions Manifiques.
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post #11 of 90
3/16/13 at 4:17am
Blind buying is fun for a lot of people here, myself included. This is especially true once you learn the major notes. Also keep in mind that some scents are too strong even with one spray! With those you can make up a dab sample for yourself.
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post #12 of 90
3/16/13 at 5:15am
Blind-buying is risky, yes. But if you don't sell off the ones you dislike, you may find that your taste changes someday to include those very ones.

Around the start of my husband's exploration into fragrance, he blind-bought Grey Flannel (it was only around $18) but was very disappointed with it; he put it aside and went on to explore many other fragrances. His collection grew and his taste broadened.

Last year he ventured to re-test Grey Flannel and found that he actually liked it. Now it's included in his rotation.
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post #13 of 90
3/16/13 at 5:34am
Agreed, no blind buy is safe, but they can be fun!

Sometimes it only takes s little note to spoil a frag you'd otherwise love...

No sample, no certainty...
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post #14 of 90
3/16/13 at 5:35am
There are a few scents that give me a migraine, but they don't include any on your list. Poison and Aromatics Elixir are the worst offenders I've found, and that's whether they're on me or someone else, but I would never expect nobody else to buy them (as long as there's an escape route if they're wearing them around me).
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post #15 of 90
3/16/13 at 7:26am
What's the point of this thread?
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post #16 of 90
3/16/13 at 7:42am
Thread Starter 
I was expecting people to list the perfumes that made them sick. Trying to look for patterns in the fragrantic universe.
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post #17 of 90
3/16/13 at 7:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hedonist222 View Post

What's the point of this thread?

To list any fragrances that made DanielPlainview feel sick.
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post #18 of 90
3/16/13 at 9:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanielPlainview View Post

I was expecting people to list the perfumes that made them sick. Trying to look for patterns in the fragrantic universe.

The pattern will be as vast as humanity itself, I'm afraid.
You know the Latin saying "de gustibus non est disputandum"? What I may find revolting (i.e. Angel) could be the favourite fragrance of someone else...

And IMO nothing should be bought blind, except for the fun of it...
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post #19 of 90
3/16/13 at 10:14am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by iodine View Post

The pattern will be as vast as humanity itself, I'm afraid.
You know the Latin saying "de gustibus non est disputandum"? What I may find revolting (i.e. Angel) could be the favourite fragrance of someone else...

And IMO nothing should be bought blind, except for the fun of it...



I know the proverb. But OH MY GOD, you made me remember that I tried Angel Men once at an Airport Terminal and I felt sick, really sick from it. It is a disgusting chocolate. They put something in the chocolate that made it nauseous.
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post #20 of 90
3/16/13 at 2:33pm
Whereas I love Angel and have had more compliments whilst wearing it than any other fragrance (the ladies' version).

Each to their own etc.
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post #21 of 90
3/16/13 at 2:42pm
oh man, I wish you'd given me the Egoiste!

The only perfume that has ever given me a headache was once back in the late 70"s when I was on a two hour car ride with someone who had over applied either Halston or Obsession (can't recall which).
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post #22 of 90
3/16/13 at 2:46pm
Adding YSL La Nuit to the list.
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post #23 of 90
3/16/13 at 3:15pm
I recommend seeking medical attention if Rive Gauche makes anyone feel sick what an awesome scent! Dior Leather Oud on the other.... Guess we can't help that some trigger the gag reflex.
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post #24 of 90
3/16/13 at 8:21pm
I haven't gotten sick from frags before. Sorry they didn't work out for you but that doens't mean it wont work for anyone else
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post #25 of 90
3/16/13 at 8:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rubegon View Post

For me, there have been very few that I could not take the smell of. These include Montale's Aoud Cuir d'Arabie

Cuir d'Arabie was my 1st blind buy, had to wash off the stink after 4 hrs, I am trying to try it again mentally b4 spraying on me again...no other leather or any other frag in my wardrobe gave such an issue.

I have never fell sick ever due 2 a parfum / cologne though...
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post #26 of 90
3/17/13 at 3:33pm
I agree with most on this list. Grey Flannel is some of the most repulsive stuff on the planet.

I do love Egoiste though, always have.


*edit* add Pasha by Cartier to this list...
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post #27 of 90
3/18/13 at 12:15pm
Wow I Love Michael Kors and really like Egoiste and Grey Flannel. Canoe was the fist Frag I've ever owned as a kid don't remember how it smells but do remember taking a bath in it Never tried the rest of the list.
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post #28 of 90
3/18/13 at 12:22pm
Grey flannel is repulsive, gives me a splitting headache and forces me to leave whichever area was tainted by it. Angel men I found to be be extremely distasteful but not nauseating. I like michael kors alot though.

My addition to this list would have to be

Hanae Mori HM and Nicole Miller for men, both made me sick, headache from NM and nausea from HM
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post #29 of 90
3/18/13 at 12:52pm
Headaches
Geurlain-Vetiver Extreme
Cartier-Description, do not understand the strange fascination with this fragrance.
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post #30 of 90
3/18/13 at 4:29pm
I just received a simple of Yatagan by Caron. It made me sick to my stomach. Wow I have never had such a reaction to a Frag. Never have I ever smelled such a disgusting frag. Thank God I went the sample route with Yatagan. Going to put it in the trash unless someone wants it.
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post #31 of 90
3/18/13 at 4:38pm
I have to say I had a surprise with Yatagan having read so many fave reviews about it. I just thought... why?

Not sure any frag has actually made me feel sick though as such. Versace Blond was trying hard though. I may not like them but I keep them and occasionally like them later, or better still, discover someone else who loves them.

I think buying blind for samples is ok for anything, however unpleasant it turns out to be. Vile is still interesting in its own way.
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post #32 of 90
3/18/13 at 5:09pm
Didn't buy it but received Black Aoud as a sample and it was hideous.
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post #33 of 90
3/19/13 at 10:16am
I think many of the Bond No9 fragrances are terrible ideas for blind buys. Very expensive and it seems they differ hugely depending on skin chemistry.

I tried Wall Street on a paper test in Nordstrom and liked it quite a lot, so the sales assistant gave me two samples of it. However, when I wore it the next day it smelt of seaweed after an hour and an hour after that it was non-existant. Other people seem to love that smell and get hours out of it.

I was talking about Bond fragrances to another sales assistant in another store and she said they don't last long at all on her skin either, but the customer next to me said they last forever on her skin.

This is why we sample!
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post #34 of 90
3/19/13 at 10:47am
I just bought Michael Kors blind. I love it.
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post #35 of 90
3/19/13 at 8:44pm
There are scents that I don't like, or would never wear like burberry weekend, I would never wear. Givenchy pi sickenly sweet. But neither will give me a physical reaction,

Though, what have given a really bad, physical aversion are Azzaro ph, and Versace dreamer. I cringe when I smell these two, can't stand the opening especially. Dry down is more tolerable but not beast mode like they suppose to be for some.

So while I think most people will safely dislike burberry weekend, I still think its a safer buy than Azzaro ph in the sense that it is not likely to make anyone sick like Azzaro ph is.
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post #36 of 90
3/19/13 at 8:55pm
Ouch, a couple of my all time favourites in the OP's list!

No scents make me feel physically sick; I even finally got my head around Secretions Magnifique!
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post #37 of 90
3/20/13 at 12:43am
Only Rive Gauche left me gagging. Not that it's badly made, just that it has a certain chemical I happen to be very sensitive to. Hope the OP understands this point someday. Grey Flannel for instance is a classic and wears very well on me. I don't enjoy Z14 nor Angel but that's simply a matter of taste /preference. Blind buying is fun as long as you restrict it to sample sizes.

Quote:
Originally Posted by EdwardB View Post

Cartier-Description, do not understand the strange fascination with this fragrance.

You meant Cartier Declaration, don't you? Do smell a few hundred more fragrances and come back to it later. I'm pretty sure your perception would have changed by then. Virgin noses tend to find many scents challenging.
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post #38 of 90
3/20/13 at 2:54am
Thread Starter 
Guys, I forgot to add that LE MALE is also sickening sweet and weird to my nose. I love the bottle and I love the ads. I really wanted to love this perfume. But it makes me sick too.
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post #39 of 90
3/20/13 at 8:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skyline View Post

Adding YSL La Nuit to the list.

Thank you. I bumped a lovefest thread for this fragrance recently. Glad it nauseates 1 other at least
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post #40 of 90
3/20/13 at 10:05am
Add CB I hate Perfume Beast to that. I got a sample collection in the mail today (as I wanted to finally test the ones I always overlooked) and Beast is... not pretty.
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post #41 of 90
3/22/13 at 1:19am
+1 for don't blind buy rive gauche. Also don't blind buy bulgari black, unless you are into rubber.
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post #42 of 90
3/22/13 at 3:29am
Frankly, while I like some of these scents, I can fully understand the advice/recommendation. Most or all of them are quite strong on the notes which polarize a lot, thus destined to be either strongly liked or disliked, the kind of scents which would always get noticed (in a positive or negative way) and hardly get any neutral feedback.
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post #43 of 90
3/22/13 at 4:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanielPlainview View Post

I was expecting people to list the perfumes that made them sick. Trying to look for patterns in the fragrantic universe.

You newbies get so excited making your quick determinations.

The olfactory system is complex and so are the fragrances. It takes years to learn to smell. You will like different things at different times. What you don't like now you may like later, and vice versa. Things can change all the time. You should try samples over a period of weeks or months or even years.

The only time a fragrance has made me feel sick is when I was sick.
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post #44 of 90
3/22/13 at 4:33am
Azuree, not only does it make me feel ill but also my small dog will leave the room instantly. Has to be washed off immediately. Surely this stuff is not perfume!!!
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post #45 of 90
3/22/13 at 5:42am
I'm sure there are no patterns when it comes to fragrances that makes one literally sick, it is highly individual. I find Egoiste and Heritage for instance great fragrances.

What has ever made me sick:
Dior Addict (one a hot day in a crowded bus and on an airplane trip. If I test it now I have no problems with it, though).
DSH (?) Sweet Milk
Secretions Magnifique (the combination of milk and metal - both familiar on a deep, unconcious level and sickening).
Micallef Yellow (or Red?) Sea (sickening sea weed smell (I have no problems with it in the nature)).
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post #46 of 90
3/24/13 at 8:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by badarun View Post

Cuir d'Arabie was my 1st blind buy, had to wash off the stink after 4 hrs, I am trying to try it again mentally b4 spraying on me again...no other leather or any other frag in my wardrobe gave such an issue.

I have never fell sick ever due 2 a parfum / cologne though...


That montale cuir is one of the best there is!! No styrax no iris powder:-) , i love it, if you wish to swap it with me:-)


There are few scents that ever made me sick, and those were:
secretions manifique....but i think they did it on purpose! That metalic note is very characteristic to many synthetic chemicals.....and this one makes majority of people sick, but really sick!!

Kokoricio

And etro royal pavillon- uh that one is mean it starts getting intolerable only after 30 mins

Aromatic elixir was stinky to me , when i first tried it but.......in general patchouly and amber can make me feel a bit sickly
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post #47 of 90
3/24/13 at 2:58pm
You have some pretty amazing stuff in your list, OP.
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post #48 of 90
3/24/13 at 5:23pm
Live Jazz
Terre dHermes
any Montale
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post #49 of 90
3/24/13 at 5:54pm
Habit Rouge
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post #50 of 90
3/24/13 at 5:57pm
Got some samples recently, and the only one that was really horrendous was Montale Dark Aoud.

Also got Yatagan, which I don't find terrible at all, but that celery note, well... just can't see that as being appropriate anywhere.

Liked Grey Flannel a bit when I first got it (cheap), but after a few wears it dawned on me that really it was a heavy, somewhat unpleasant, and not entirely masculine frag.

Rive gauche was nice enough, but no longevity on me, so I swapped it.

Michael Kors for Men is one that sounds like my kind of frag. Gotta see if I can get a sample of this one.

The only frag that sort of makes me feel sick now is Bogart One Man Show. I used to like it, but in early January I got hit with norovirus, and happened to be wearing OMS that day. When I was on my knees hurling, I kept getting whiffs of the OMS. Now I associate it with being sick as hell. Can't take the scent anymore.
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post #51 of 90
3/25/13 at 6:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanielPlainview View Post

Here I will list all fragrances that made me feel sick. Really sick (physically sick). I invite you guys to do the same. :

Michael Kors
Egoiste
The topnotes in Heritage
Rive Gauche
Z-14
Grey Flannel
Canoe
Angel Men

I had to wash them off of my skin and gave them for free immediately.

Considering you gave them away, I am gonna have to disagree with you and encourage more people to blind buy fragrances like these. I like them all ( minus AMen which smells like food to me). The way I see it, we have a possiblity of having 8 happy people versus one unhappy person. That is a pretty good trade off !

Seriously though, I think all those fragrances are well made and I guess they just did not work out for you. It happens, but I still consider them all to be safe blind buys.
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post #52 of 90
3/26/13 at 6:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bigsteve View Post

The only frag that sort of makes me feel sick now is Bogart One Man Show. I used to like it, but in early January I got hit with norovirus, and happened to be wearing OMS that day. When I was on my knees hurling, I kept getting whiffs of the OMS. Now I associate it with being sick as hell. Can't take the scent anymore.

Guilty by association. I hate it when that happens. I used to wear CK One a fair bit in my college days. One particular night I got really, really drunk and woke up feeling as sick as a dog. I tried to brush it off and decided to get a shower and get dressed. I was still feeling awful after the shower but carried on regardless. I sprayed on some CK One and was instantly sick. It was either the immediate alcohol blast or a reminder of the previous nights festivities that caused it. I spent the rest of the day in bed!

Following that though, I couldn't bear to smell CK One anywhere for a good 5 years. It made me queasy every time I sniffed it. There was one particular work colleague who I literally couldn't stand next to because he wore it. It's only in the last few years that it's become tolerable to me again.
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post #53 of 90
3/26/13 at 7:37am
I don't understand blind buys in this age of relatively cheap and easy to find samples on the internet.
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post #54 of 90
3/26/13 at 7:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by usedtowork View Post

I don't understand blind buys in this age of relatively cheap and easy to find samples on the internet.

Most of the fragrances I can afford to buy are under £10 part used bottles. I have the choice of either spending £5 on a sample including P&P (if I can find one of that scent- believe me it's not that easy for a lot of them in the UK) or spending £7 including P&P for half a bottle full.

Which would you choose?

I sample the things that I have no chance of affording to buy, but I understand that this is just to experience the scent a couple of times because I know that I have zero chance of getting together more money than a whole month's mortgage to buy a bottle of it.

If you were working on my budget then you'd understand that a part used bottle picked up for a song is worth a try (once it's been researched) if you know that a full bottle at retail prices is completely out of your reach.
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post #55 of 90
3/26/13 at 8:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sfmedusa View Post

Most of the fragrances I can afford to buy are under £10 part used bottles. I have the choice of either spending £5 on a sample including P&P (if I can find one of that scent- believe me it's not that easy for a lot of them in the UK) or spending £7 including P&P for half a bottle full.

There are some serious bargains to be had on part used bottles. My only concern is the condition they've been kept in. I picked up a 75ml bottle of Silver Mountain Water with around 30ml remaining for £15 the other week. Also picked up a 125ml Michael Kors with 90ml left for £13. Great deals.
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post #56 of 90
3/26/13 at 8:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Randall Flagg View Post

There are some serious bargains to be had on part used bottles. My only concern is the condition they've been kept in. I picked up a 75ml bottle of Silver Mountain Water with around 30ml remaining for £15 the other week. Also picked up a 125ml Michael Kors with 90ml left for £13. Great deals.

I'd like to know how they were kept too, but sadly beggars can't be choosers. I want to smell good and I want to do it at a low cost, so I buy parts of bottles and half bottles to indulge that wish. If I get an occasional one that's gone off then that's the price I pay.
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post #57 of 90
3/26/13 at 8:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Randall Flagg View Post

There are some serious bargains to be had on part used bottles. My only concern is the condition they've been kept in. I picked up a 75ml bottle of Silver Mountain Water with around 30ml remaining for £15 the other week. Also picked up a 125ml Michael Kors with 90ml left for £13. Great deals.

Impressed! Are you willing to share where you found those bargains? They're both scents I'm looking to acquire as it happens!
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post #58 of 90
3/26/13 at 8:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by voodoodanny View Post

Impressed! Are you willing to share where you found those bargains? They're both scents I'm looking to acquire as it happens!

Both on eBay. I only ever buy part used bottles from there, and only ones for bargain prices. Too many fakes knocking around where full/new/sealed bottles are concerned.

- - - Updated - - -

Quote:
Originally Posted by sfmedusa View Post

I'd like to know how they were kept too, but sadly beggars can't be choosers. I want to smell good and I want to do it at a low cost, so I buy parts of bottles and half bottles to indulge that wish. If I get an occasional one that's gone off then that's the price I pay.

That's fair comment indeed. I think very much the same way.
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post #59 of 90
3/26/13 at 9:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DanielPlainview View Post

Guys, I forgot to add that LE MALE is also sickening sweet and weird to my nose. I love the bottle and I love the ads. I really wanted to love this perfume. But it makes me sick too.

The Le Male BOTTLE makes me physically ill. I immediatly start vomiting when I glance at it.
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post #60 of 90
3/26/13 at 9:56am
I find VC&A Midnight In Paris EDP makes me ill, but only when I am ill already.
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