They made Victoria look like she's actually got a butt.

Oh Robin! The Bandit.......yup, I can see why you stopped buying bottles unsniffed. I don't see myself reaching for it. Nuit de Noel.....yawn. Gosh, I hope I don't get the hate mail. lol I got it in toilette, so I knew I was taking a chance. I like my el cheapo Coriandre much better.

The Fath de Fath is interesting, but I don't think I will pursue it. The Habanita was very different from anything I've smelled. I only have the toilette and I can see that the parfum must be a stunner. That one is soooooo feminine. I've got no problem wearing Fracas go figure and the Habanita would challenge me. I'd have to feel especially girly and ready to pounce on someone to wear it.

My dresser is covered in little glass vials. I think I will continue the sample-before-I- try-it trend cause I must have a weird nose. I love, love the Cartier Baiser du Dragon, so I know I'm in the minority camp. I must be the only person on earth who doesn't care for Bond No 9 in New Haarlem (and I lurve coffee) and Oh the heresy! I didn't care for Bois de Paradis. Tam Dao reminds me of the oils you can get in a earthy crunchy store, so I won't spend on it. The Artisan Safron Troublant is too dinner for my liking. I can tell that it's well made, but it's just not for me. I got some Villoresi and I plan on sampling more. Got Donna and the Sandalo. They weren't a "bingo" either, but I have a feeling I will find something in the line that will knock my socks off.

You know what kills me? The Passage d' Enfer and the Lubin. They smell baaaad to me. Lubin is like Ben Gay for me. Before anyone stones me, they smell Well Made Bad. lol

I Might find something in the Yosh that I'd go wild for. This, based on the Ginger Ciao, but even so, I think I've smelled oils that are comparable in a well-stocked health food store.

Now, the Artisan fig made me smile when I put it on. I want a little more something so I will try the extreme and the Philosokos. I've got Costes somewhere and I'll have to try it again.

The CBI Winter 1972 and the Black March blows my mind. I can't begin to fathom how Brosius could bottle that. Memory of Kindness and the Caravan Tea; I love to sniff those bottles. I don't care much for fruity frags, but the Apple one surprised me. I would wear that one to draw someone in. I am already imagining the fun I'll have using it to layer with skin scents. The others, I'd want to perfume my house, car, and my office with. And that's no slight. That's my living space.

Well, enough yakking. Obviously, I'm having fun and I'm sure I will find scents that I love. It just may take me awhile.

I'm so glad I found your blog Robin. I'd do the pilgrimage to the Nordies with my wallet full, and I'd come home empty handed. You can only buy so much Bvlgari. Thanks.

Wow, you've done lots of sniffing! So far, our tastes diverge all over the place: I love Passage d'Enfer, Tam Dao, Lubin Idole...but we agree on the CB I Hate Perfumes. And I love quite a few of the Bvlgaris!

Will just say: don't give up on the ones you don't like. Put the bottles & vials aside for 6 months, keep smelling other things, then go back and try the ones you didn't like. I was very surprised at how quickly my tastes changed when I first got started. I detested Philosykos the first time I tried it; now it is one of my favorites. Even now, it can take several wearings before something "grows on me".

Yes, I can tell my tastes are changing already. The 100% Love is growing on me. I'm appreciating the Aimez Moi more and more too.

I think the Montales, Le Labo, and PGs are next. I have yet to smell Any Malle or Lutens. I'm so lazy about the ebay. I must have clicked on 20 samples or so on Fripperies, and when I couldn't find where to pay quick enough, I gave up.

Hey! Of the Le Labo, which three do you rec for the sampler trio? I'm thinking Patchouli, Rose, and I'm stuck on the third.

I happen to like the men's/unisex in this line better, so for the 3rd I'd pick Bergamote or Vetiver. However, I've seen great reviews of the Jasmin, which I didn't happen to love.

Robin, I REALLY wanna smell Diamond Princess Trina, but I can't find it in ANY stores! She said it would be in stores, but the only place I can find it is on the website. Have you smelled it??? Has ANYONE smelled it???

I haven't seen it in a store either. Maybe email them from the website and ask? I know some of the younger celebrity perfumes are in places like Claire's, but haven't checked there.

Going back to sniff fragrances one didn't like is a good idea. That happened to me with Michael Kors. When it first debut, I couldn't stand it and women were buying it like crazy at Nordstrom's... I figured it was just me. Went back a few months later, and fell in love with it and bought it. I too love the Bvlgaris!! You just can't go wrong with Bvlgari! But I do miss their Eau fraiche!!! I wonder if I can still find it online?

I am not familiar with Bvlgari Eau Fraiche & can't find it on the basenotes directory. Any chance you mean the Eau Parfumee -- the green tea one? That one is still made.

I just look at the 1stperfume website and they have the Eau Fraiche. I wore this back in 1999 or 2000. Its a lighter version Bvlgari. When I ran out of it, I couldn't find it anymore... Now I found it again!

Ah, I see it too. Had never heard of this one and will have to see if I can find a tester somewhere!

Robin, did you get any info on Trina's new perfume?? The name?? The bottle?? The release date?????

It seems to be called Diamond Doll. Last I checked (a few weeks ago) you could buy it in a gift set on her website, but there was NO information about the scent itself at all. Looks like that is still the case:

http://www.shoptrina.com/