Gutted......

[Andyjreid]

So after browsing this site for a year or so, I decided to sign up and make some reviews. I have also read many handy reviews and it has opened my eyes to some of the frags out there.

So I decided to bite the big one and start shopping for a Creed frag.

Creed being as expensive as they are I managed to get my hands on some samples which came through the door this morning.

"Why gutted?" you may ask.......

Well I'm currently sitting here with the worst head cold I've had in about a year and cant smell jack.

Typical

[Brielle87]

Oh, you poor thing, I feel so bad. My husband just made it through a two-week-long bout of some head-cold/sinus thing; every time I asked him to smell something he would just look at me and say "Not a thing can pass through my nose." I do wish you quick recovery, just drink a lot of tea with honey and clove, it helps.

[Brielle87]

Oh, and I also forgot to welcome you to BN, seeing that this is your first post. I know that you will enjoy it here, it is truly like having an extended 'fragrance' family.

[Andyjreid]

Thank you very much thats what I'm hoping for. Family and good advice from people who know frag as opposed to sales people. Ha ha.

[Brielle87]

Thank you very much thats what I'm hoping for. Family and good advice from people who know frag as opposed to sales people. Ha ha.

I will make you laugh a little, hopefully it will alleviate the troubles of your head-cold.
When you mentioned SA's it made me think of one of my colleagues when I was working in cosmetics.
She was on the fragrance counter, was there for years, and when people asked what she thought of a scent she always said "FABULOUS! simply FABULOUS! you're gonna luv it." Well, that was not what she really thought of the fragrances, she thought most were 'garbage', but for the clients she always said they are "Fabulous". So this is what I always think of, when being approached by any SA.

The only one in the world I would ever trust, because I have known her since I was a young girl, is a lovely woman at my local Neiman Marcus named Anne Fanning. She tells it like it is, with me she is sooo honest.
So as you had stated, here it is family...sometimes we love a scent sometimes hate it. Some of the time some love it, others hate it. Occasionally one person will love and hate a scent.
But you will never hear how a scent is "FABULOUS", even if it were bottled urine.

[Andyjreid]

That did make me laugh thank you.

It's actually quite hard to buy unique fragrance here in the Glasgow area of Scotland as most of our frag comes from drugstores (Boots, superdrug etc), mainstream frag retailers (the perfume shop) or Department stores with pushy SA's.

I also feel sometimes that because of my age (27) im not taken seriously at certain specialist retailers/perfumers.

The Department stores are worst though, the pressure to buy something you dont like is intense and It also doesn't matter how often you say you don't like something they will keep pushing whatever is going to get them the best comission.

[Amit]

Almost all (yes, ALL) of the SA's I've interacted with so far always, _always_ promoted every single frag as "latest and fresh". And that included frags like Kouros, Opium PH, Givenchy Gentleman et al

[Andyjreid]

Typical isn't it.

[Basteri]

welcome and get well soon.
what Creeds did you get?

[Strollyourlobster]

Welcome to Basenotes. Looking forward to your reviews when the nose is back online. Rest, fluids, optimism!

[Brielle87]

The Department stores are worst though, the pressure to buy something you dont like is intense and It also doesn't matter how often you say you don't like something they will keep pushing whatever is going to get them the best comission.

Because those scents are...FABULOUS, FABULOUS, FABULOUS!!!!!!!!

[Andyjreid]

Thanks for all the warm welcomes.
Im currently drinking lots of lemon & ginger tea and resting like only a male can

I have done a few reviews but they are up for review at the moment, I couldn't resiste to review the "Fragrance" by Kerry Katona ha ha ha ha............

Basteri, I received a big (2.5ml ish) sample of GIT on an embossed Creed card and it came with an extra sample of Michael by Michael Kors (which blasted through the sinus in a nice way)

I have ordered up some more Creed samples from Les Senteurs in London (very helpful people) including Himalaya, Silver Mountain Water, Original Vetiver and Milliseme Imperial.

As stated previously it's very difficult to shop around for these types of frag up in Scotland so the sample service from Les Senteurs is ideal.

I await my package of goodness with an open nose and mind (and a soon to be empty bank account)

[LeeScot]

Hello Andy,

Nice to see someone local into niche fragrances. Don't feel alone in Glasgow,as there are severalothers (not that I know many) but we can stillget some great unique fragrances in Glasgow.

Here is a rundown of where to find some of the best fragrances here:

John Lewis sells Creed fragances such as Original Santal, Vetiver, Silver Mountain Water and Himalaya. Another fragrance worth trying here is Jil Sander Man as here is the only place that sells it. Both John Lewis and House of Fraser have Guerlain counters, and it is worth trying out the mens fragrances, such as Habit Rouge and Vetiver, as well as the highly recommended Cologne du 68 which you just have to try!!

At House of Fraser if you go in the main entrance you will find Guelain to the left, then as you continue on your right you will find Annick Goutal and Serge Lutens fragrances. You wont like all of them but you will definately find some of them outstanding. If you cut left after the Dior section to the main perfumery area you will find Czech & Speake, Acqua Di Parma, Lalique and Canali fragrances and opposite the perfumery area is the Hermes boutique, which containa all their fragrances including the exclusive Hermessence line. They also sell the discovery set of four 15ml bottles which is great value if you like them. They are really good with samples so pop in and show some interest and you will likely get a sample to take away with you! Further on you will find the Cartier and Banana Republic sections, which have some nice fragrances that you wont get elsewhere in Glasgow. the mens fragrance section also has Trufitt and Hill colognes although I am unsure if they have any testers out. Also check out Narcisso Rodriguez ForHim and Van Cleef's Tzar for men!

Of course, across at Princess Square you willfind sever other fragrance opportunities. L'Occitaine has many reasonable priced fragrances, and inside you willfind Jo Malone and Penhaligons, which are well worth experiencing. upstairs at Space NK you will find several Diptique fragrances worth checking out! There is also a small counter selling some barbershop colognes such as Geo T Trumper and some others worth trying.

Also, I really recommend going to Commes Des Garcons in Ruthven Lane (just opposite Hillhead Underground Station) which has the complete DGC fragrance collection of over 40 fragrances. You might find some of the more expensive fragrances cheaper to buy online,but for the more resonably priced such at the Insence or Energy C series, it is cheaper to buy here as there is no postage to pay.

Also on Great Western Road there is a small shop that has Geo T Trumper, Les Neriedes and for the ladies has E.Coudoray and Tocca fragrances. I have a feeling the Clive Christian showroom may also stock CC fragrances, but since I am not going to be able to afford one of their kitchens anytime in my lifetime I am unlikely to venture in!!

It is always worth making a trip to Edinburgh for both Jenners and Harvey Nichols. I believe that Jenners has just received the Armani Prive collection and the Roja Dove section is well worth a visit. The Harvey Nicks has several worthwhile fragrances such as Bond No 9 and several others worth checking out.

Another place I have been meaning to check out is Scentsations of Troon, search for their website as again they have many niche lines and also some other hard to get fragrances. I have yet to visit their store but hope to do so once I have finished some work on my house.

Enjoy the Creed fragrances once you are feeling better and check out some the fragrances that can be found locally to discover your taste in fragrance. Once you have a better idea of what you like in the world of niche you can even think of visiting London, which is a joy to behold!

And dont worry about being judged at beauty counters, I am only a few years older at 31 and most people think I look younger, and I get on well with most of the sales assistants. Remember to checkout Boots next moth when there will be a huge amount of summer fragrances coming out too. Welcome to the world of fragrance!

[Andyjreid]

Hey LeeScot, Thanks for all the advice.

Im not completely new to the world of fragrance and I already knew about most of the places you suggested to check for frag.

I guess I kinda feel like an older guy in a 27 y/o body. I got into frag very young (possibly too young to appreciate) and have always had a sensitive nose and a keen sense of smell.

I have to say that Scentsations of Troon will be somewhere to check out when I get time to get a train down there.

I work in Byres road and I have to confess I had no idea that there was a CDG down ruthven lane. I literally pass there every day.

Ive also been to the counter that sells the barber shop colognes, The Perfect Shave its called. I regularly visit there for shave creams but on occasion have bought frag from there. It was Taylors Shaving Shop cologne I bought there I think. They also stock the Czech & Speake range. I'll also need to check John Lewis more thoroughly (last time I was there was about 15th Dec and it wasnt nice at all).

You CAN test the Trufitt and Hill in frasers, just need to watch out for someone approacing you with the latest generic frag trying to sell it to you. That is the one thing I dislike about frasers, the SA's are very pushy. However I did buy one of the Banana Republic frags from there a week or so ago. Its quite nice but waiting till the cold goes away before I give it a full run.

It's nice to know that im not alone here in Scotland.