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Today I thought I’d share a little bit about my work.

As most of you already know, I’m in the beauty industry and have been for the past 27 years.

I spent 20 of those years primarily involved with cosmetics and skincare, then switched over exclusively to fragrance 7 years ago…and LOVE it.

Fragrance is a passion of mine.

Out of all our senses, smell is my favorite, which actually ties into taste because tasting also involves your sense of smell.

Which is why I also have a passion for eating (especially Italian food).

While eating, I thoroughly enjoy both my sense of smell and taste. I will often close my eyes and savor whatever it is that I'm eating; oohing and aahing as if I'm having a food orgasm.

I've even been known to cry out, "OH MY GOD....I JUST CLIMAXED OVER THIS CANNOLI."

For as long as I can remember, I have always had a keen sense of smell.

Smell is the strongest sense we have because it has the ability to invoke immediate and powerful memories.

Think about it, what happens when you smell something that reminds you of your childhood? You’re immediately transported back to that time, whether it reminds you of something positive or negative.

Scent connects you to an emotion. Therefore, whenever you smell something you actually FEEL it.

The first thing I do when introducing a new customer to my line of fragrance is ask them, “How do you want this fragrance to make you FEEL?”

From there, I can better judge what type of fragrance in my line that will best be suited for them.

Also, believe it or not, many customers are initially drawn to try or not try a fragrance simply by the design of the bottle. I’ve had many customers not choose a fragrance (even though they liked the scent) because they didn’t like the esthetics of the bottle.

Customers have said to me, “I would NEVER have that ugly bottle sitting on my bedroom dresser.”

So when designing a new fragrance, a lot of thought and care must go into not only the scent itself, but also the visual aspect of the bottle.

Here are some photographs I took of various fragrance bottles on the market.

Please enjoy….


Jean Paul Gaultier *love the bottles, but the scent is not particularly a favorite of mine because it's overly sweet.


Bvlgari Omnia Collection *the silver bottle is my favorite. Clean, crisp, fresh, and natural. The bottles are designed to replicate the classic and clean Bvlgari jewelry design - interlocked rings.


Jucy Couture: Viva la Juicy *loooove this fragrance! It smells exactly like the name....juicy.


Madonna Truth or Dare Naked *Madonna's first fragrance, Truth or Dare, was not a big hit for me - too much tuberose and gardenia. However, Naked, smells really good - rich and earthy.


Chanel Fragrance Collection *did you know that Chanel #5 is the most sold fragrance at Christmas, all over the world?


Bvlgari Man *this is actually the fragrance I'm currently wearing. I swear to god, I got into an elevator a few months ago and a woman who was also in the elevator turned around and said, "What cologne are you wearing because it smells incredible?" The next day she came into my store and bought it for her boyfriend.


Roberto Cavalli *this fragrance is spicy and sooooo sexy! It'll make a man wanna rip a woman's clothes off right in the middle of a grocery store!


Bvlgari Mon Jasmine Noir *elegant, sheer, and totally feminine floral scent. Classic, yet youthful. Love the black ribbon!


Marc Jacobs Oh, Lola.....Marc Jacobs Dot *these bottles give a clear peek into the fragrances themselves - bright, cheerful and playful!


Nicki Minaj *I'm both intrigued and scared SHITLESS over this bottle. You have to pull the head off in order to spray the fragrance. Gives me the creeps because it feels like I'm DECAPITATING her.

Wishing you a fragrant and fun weekend everyone!
X

56 comments:

  1. Ron, first I have to say that these photographs are fantastic. They look professional!


    Also, I too love fragrance. My girlfriends call me a fragrance whore because I'm always shopping for fragrance. Many of these bottles you've shown, I've smelled. I need to try more of the Bvlgari because I had the silver bottle and loved it. I'm a big fan of Viva la Juicy and Marc Jacobs Daisy.


    You made me laugh about the fragrance making a man want to rip a women's clothes off in the grocery store. I need to try that fragrance.


    Fun post.


    Have a wonderful weekend, Ron.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good morning Ronnie,

    Despite the fact that I live practically "next door" to one of the world's fashion capitals, I am not very perfume saavy!!

    Ooooh; Thank you for sharing these pretty images of thes perfume bottles!
    I score very low on a practical test; I have only smelled one of the woman's perfumes- Opium. I honestly dislike heavy scents like these.I had bought a very old standard once to mail to a family member- Shalimar. It is in the same heavy type of scent like Opium that I can't wear!!

    My nod has always gone for natural fragrences like the ones that l'Occitane en Provence sells. I love citrus scents and anything fresh and crisp, like Lemon Verbena.Guerlain also has some magnificent natural scents.
    Have you smelled the apple scent of "Nina" by Nina Ricci? I got it once as a sample and I swore that it was so much like apples! More for very young women... Yes, women want all different things out of perfume and it changes by age, too.

    Thank you for the beautiful journey to the beautiful land of perfumes!

    Happy Friday and weekend, my dear xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good morning, Ron. I loved this post and I agree with you that the style of bottle is often the seller when buying perfume. Not for me, though, I'm strictly a one perfume gal ...Guerlain's Vol de Nuit. It suits me. Some people say it is my signature mark. I have tried others and quite liked one by Bvlgari given in a flight pack by Emirates airlines ... called Au the rouge ... but I always came back to my favourite. Wishing you a fabulous weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  4. A beautiful post, Ron! A little smelly, but the colors are great and I love the bottles that you pictured. The first ones (Gaultier) are my favorite. Don't know why - maybe it's the shape?


    I'm sure that many folks appreciate having someone like yourself -- someone who knows what they're talking about -- assist them in a fragrance purchase. I know I would.



    Hope your post-Christmas rush is a profitable one.



    I've been thinking that maybe I should un-retire and try to do what you do. I mean, I can remember how, since I was very young, people called me a "stinker." Maybe that means I'd have a knack? Oui?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Smell is the most primitive sense and, unlike the other senses works it's way through parts of the brain associated with memory and emotion before going to the thalamus. All the other senses are mediated by the thalamus first. Often those emotional triggers occur even before we're aware we've smelled something.

    I hate the Gaultier and the Nicki Minaj bottles. I wouldn't have either on my dresser. Not a huge fan of the ornate ones, either - I tend to prefer clean lines. But my bias has always mostly been against celebrity perfumes (and celebrity lines of clothing). I want them to stick to acting or singing or whatever. I know they don't actually design the perfumes but once their name is on it, whatever bad associations I have to that person ruin the perfume for me.

    All that said, I'm lousy at picking out perfume for myself. I try one on and then an hour later decide it's too sweet or something. What I mostly end up using is Neutrogena sesame oil. If I could find a warm, slightly spicy but clean fragrance like that, I'd probably buy it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. The Opium bottle reminded me of one Christmas my FIL asked me to pick one up for MIL for a gift from him. When I told him how much it cost he was like, "Damn. Why can't she just like Avon?" Cracked me up!

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is a great post, Ron. I love all the beautiful bottles, though that Nicki Minaj decapitation number is a bit extreme. They should call it the Marie Antoinette. I remember my oldest brother having a whole array of cologne back in the Sixties, but I don't see much of it around now. Oh, and I can see that you're definitely a "leave the gun, take the cannoli" kind of guy! Have a great weekend, buddy, and Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hola Denise~

    Thank you, glad you enjoyed the photos. I took them so fast the other day while I was at work, I didn't know how they would come out.

    " My girlfriends call me a fragrance whore"

    HA! I guess you could call me that too because I LOVE fragrance. I have so many bottles, I have to keep them in their boxes so that they stay fresh. I have some that I collect just for the bottle design.

    So you've tried Crystalline from Bvlgari? Isn't it faaaaaaabulous? Out of all the Bvlgari fragrances, it's my favorite to show to customers because most everyone loves the way it smells. Fresh and clean.

    "I'm a big fan of Viva la Juicy and Marc Jacobs Daisy."



    We sell so much Marc Jacobs Daisy in our store. Also, Viva la Juicy.


    Thanks for stopping by, girl. Have a terrific weekend!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hey there Secret Agent Woman~

    LOVE the first paragraph of your comment! Brava! OMG...you know A LOT about smell!!!! I took a course in aromatherapy/essential oils a few years ago and learned exactly what you shared.

    "Often those emotional triggers occur even before we're aware we've smelled something."

    Exactly.

    "But my bias has always mostly been against celebrity perfumes (and celebrity lines of clothing). I want them to stick to acting or singing or whatever. I know they don't actually design the perfumes but once their name is on it, whatever bad associations I have to that person ruin the perfume for me."

    Thank you. And I agree with you 100%. And most of the celebrity fragrances I've smelled all smell the same because they copy one another to what they think the public wants. None of them are unique.

    ", I'm lousy at picking out perfume for myself. I try one on and then an hour later decide it's too sweet or something. What I mostly end up using is Neutrogena sesame oil. If I could find a warm, slightly spicy but clean fragrance like that, I'd probably buy it."

    The best thing to do is ask for samples so that you can wear them for a few days to see how it reacts on your skin. Sephora is GREAT for giving free samples to all their customers.

    I tend to like earthy, spicy, and natural scents. Tom Ford makes some really great ones!

    Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your opinion and insight on this post. Enjoyed!

    Have a super weekend!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  10. Good morning Valerie~

    "I'm strictly a one perfume gal ...Guerlain's Vol de Nuit. It suits me. Some people say it is my signature mark."

    I use to work for Guerlain many years ago while living in Florida, so I know of the fragrance you speak of and love it. I wish I could have a signature scent of my own, but there are so many that I enjoy, it's hard to find just one.

    "I have tried others and quite liked one by Bvlgari given in a flight pack by Emirates airlines ... called Au the rouge '



    Yes...I know that scent. It's one that I really liked from Bvlgari (earthy, but light). Unfortunately, they discontinued it :(


    Thanks for stopping by, dear lady. Have a maaaaaavelous weekend!


    X

    ReplyDelete
  11. Bonjour Barb!

    "I score very low on a practical test; I have only smelled one of the woman's perfumes- Opium. I honestly dislike heavy scents like these.I had bought a very old standard once to mail to a family member- Shalimar. It is in the same heavy type of scent like Opium that I can't wear!!"

    You're right...those are both VERY heavy fragrances. But believe it or not, I like the scent of Opium. It's more of a winter fragrance because it's so spicy and warm. And it's ironic you mentioned Shalimar because that was Eva Peron's signature scent. I find it too sweet and powdery though.

    " like the ones that l'Occitane en Provence sells. I love citrus scents and anything fresh and crisp, like Lemon Verbena.Guerlain also has some magnificent natural scents."

    LOVE the scents from l'Occitane en Provence! And I used to work for Guerlain, so I know their scents very well. I love their Vetiver for men!

    "Have you smelled the apple scent of "Nina" by Nina Ricci? I got it once as a sample and I swore that it was so much like apples!"



    Yup...we used to carry that one in our store. It smells just like the bottle....apples.


    Much thanks for stopping by and sharing on this post, my friend. Happy Friday and weekend to you and D!


    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hiya Suzi!

    " I love all the beautiful bottles, though that Nicki Minaj decapitation number is a bit extreme. They should call it the Marie Antoinette."

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Love it! And I agree......a bit extreme. Plus, the fragrance itself is very uneventful - fruity and sweet.

    " I remember my oldest brother having a whole array of cologne back in the Sixties, but I don't see much of it around now."

    You're brother sounded a lot like me when I was a kid. I used have so many bottles of cologne from AVON on my dresser.

    "Oh, and I can see that you're definitely a "leave the gun, take the cannoli" kind of guy!"



    Bwhahahahhahaha! Cracked me up!!!


    Thanks for stopping by, my friend. Have a faaaabulous weekend!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'd go with the Roberto Cavalli for your description alone. Who wouldn't want a little boom-boom right there in the Triscuits aisle?


    I agree that smells can transport you back in time to certain places and events in your past just as easily as music (a conversation you and I have had in the past).


    Thanks for making scents of all these fragrances, Ron!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yes...can you believe how expensive Opium is????


    I think their smallest perfume bottle is over $80.00!!!!


    X

    ReplyDelete
  15. Good morning Lowell~

    Thank you, buddy. Glad you enjoyed the photos of the bottles.

    "The first ones (Gaultier) are my favorite. Don't know why - maybe it's the shape?"

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Yup...perhaps it's the shape! The men's version of the fragrance is shaped like a torso too. Gaultier is notorious for his SHOCK value.

    "I'm sure that many folks appreciate having someone like yourself -- someone who knows what they're talking about -- assist them in a fragrance purchase. I know I would."

    Thank you. Fragrance is a passion of mine, so I really enjoy my work.

    "I've been thinking that maybe I should un-retire and try to do what you do. I mean, I can remember how, since I was very young, people called me a "stinker." Maybe that means I'd have a knack? Oui?"



    HA! Hey, you seriously might like this work because it normally involves short hours, good money, and you have off two months out of the year.


    Thanks for stopping by, Lowell! Wishing you an awesome weekend!


    X

    ReplyDelete
  16. "I'd go with the Roberto Cavalli for your description alone. Who wouldn't want a little boom-boom right there in the Triscuits aisle?"

    Bwhahahhaahahhahahahaha!

    Mark, I KNEW, KNEW, KNEW you would say something brilliantly witty about the Roberto Cavalli!

    You CRACK ME UP, MAN!!!!!

    "I agree that smells can transport you back in time to certain places and events in your past just as easily as music (a conversation you and I have had in the past)."



    Yup, you said it....both smells AND music have such a powerful way of transporting us back.


    Thanks for stopping by, buddy. Wishing you and Tara an faaaaaaaaaaaabulous weekend!


    X to you both!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hey there Rob~

    " I love all the beautiful bottles, though that Nicki Minaj decapitation number is a bit extreme. They should call it the Marie Antoinette."

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Love it! And I agree......a bit extreme. Plus, the fragrance itself is very uneventful - fruity and sweet.

    " I remember my oldest brother having a whole array of cologne back in the Sixties, but I don't see much of it around now."

    You're brother sounded a lot like me when I was a kid. I used have so many bottles of cologne from AVON on my dresser.

    "Oh, and I can see that you're definitely a "leave the gun, take the cannoli" kind of guy!"

    Bwhahahahhahaha! Cracked me up!!!

    Thanks for stopping by, buddy. Have a faaaaaabulous weekend!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  18. What an interesting post, Ron! And great photos of the bottles.

    Have you ever heard of Creed fragrances? I use one of theirs called, Royal-OUD. I like their fragrances because they have a very natural scent to them. But they are VERY expensive, so I can only purchase one a year.

    Love the line about the Nicki Minaj bottle, " Gives me the creeps because it feels like I'm DECAPITATING her."

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hiya Matt~

    Yes....I have heard of Creed fragrances and really like them. In fact, a close friend of mine in Florida just got a job with them in Neiman Marcus and loves it. And yes, I know they're VERY expensive. Their small bottle goes for over $200.00. I think the reason why they're so expensive is because of the ingredients they use.



    Thanks for stopping by, buddy! Have a super weekend!


    X

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow....the photos are awesome!! Are they yours--cuz if they are...WELL done!

    I can't say I know anything about fragrances in a bottle. I don't do perfume--Don't get me wrong, I have a basket FULL of them......seems other people think I DO do perfumes. *laughing* I can't toss them--the bottles are too pretty and they were gifts, dontchaknow. I TRIED onceuponatime....most of them turned out smelling like bug spray on me. And I'm kinda sensitive to the whole 'scent' stuff nowadays. Undoubtedly they'll be passed on because the truth is Mel ought not do 'em. Even walking into heavily scented places sends me out in a jiffy, with my rescue inhaler in hand!

    Bit of an allergic reaction, I'm told. It's to the point of asking co-workers to not use a particular hair product or perfume because I simply can't be in the vacinity of it. Which really sucks. No more scented candles, toss out cleaning products and smelly lotions/bath bubbles...and deal. *sigh* But you're right--scents do evoke a whole string of emotions/feelings. Right now it's panic and pissed-offedness! *laughing*

    Really, some of my strongest memories come with scents attached to them. And one of them is Channel No.5 which my step-mother wore as her scent, religiously.

    I hear tell my birth mother wore Evening in Paris. LOL I remember that blue bottle well........just not the scent. I wonder if they still make that one-- Probably not, huh? ;-)



    Enjoy the weekend festivities, sir.
    I'm going to hope the after holiday 'stuff' has been minimal for you.


    Oh......and I'll advise himself--if he sees that 'stuff' going on at the grocery store, it's the perfume! And he should STAY OUT OF THE TRISCUIT AISLE!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love this, Ron! I adore the Juicy too, but find that it doesn't last long on me. I've been using DKNY Be Delicious for years, so if you have a recommendation along that scent, let me know. Although maybe I need to get me some of that Roberto, cuz I'm at the grocery a lot, and it could really use some livening up! Roar!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Jay of The Depp EffectFriday, December 28, 2012

    ""What cologne are you wearing because it smells incredible?" The next
    day she came into my store and bought it for her boyfriend."

    But surely that's one of the worst ways to choose a perfume, on account of it'll never smell the same on another person? Love the story, though!

    I also love those little interlocked ring Bvlgari bottles. Those are really sweet .. I'm afraid I'm one of those tedious people who could easily choose NOT to buy because of the design of the bottle, probably because I'm not entirely sold on the idea of wearing perfume anyway. I tend to prefer light, subtle fragrances, or florals, especially lavender. I adore jasmine, but it never, ever smells right on me. I do like the original Valentino, and there are one or two Jo Malones that I like - for instance, if I feel like wearing a really 'perfume-y' fragrance, her Pomegranate Noir will do it!

    ReplyDelete
  23. i've wanted the jasmine noir for the longest time but.... $$$ and really i am a #5 girl. these are so much fun, ron. i like the idea of decapitating N. personally. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. i just recently read something that said a person who smells good is thought of as more attractive - something like that, but i can see that. when i smell someone - well a man - and he smells good it's like catnip to me. i perk up and i'm looking him up and down and i want to follow and inhale him - but i'm not a stalker, but i do enjoy the moment. my ex- mr. always kept himself smelling great, so much that he would leave his scent on me and i would walk around smelling myself for the next hour. i love of good smelling man. now what were we talking about. heck if i know.


    i don't care what the bottle looks like, well i didn't care until i saw the last photo, never would i buy that creepy mess. even if i like it. that's the first bottle of perfume i saw that i wouldn't buy because of the way it looks. never occurred to me about the bottle design.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hey there Jay~

    "But surely that's one of the worst ways to choose a perfume, on account of it'll never smell the same on another person?"

    That's true, a fragrance will never smell EXACTLY like it does on each individual, but smelling it on someone WILL give you a basic idea of what the fragrance smells like. Each person's skin will "pull" certain notes of the fragrance to the top (for instance, my skin pulls all the woodier and spicier notes), while someone else might pull more of the citrus notes. However, ALL the notes are there is just that some are more prominent on each person.

    "I tend to prefer light, subtle fragrances, or florals, especially lavender. I adore jasmine, but it never, ever smells right on me. I do like the original Valentino, and there are one or two Jo Malones that I like -"



    LOVE the original Valentino and we used to carry that fragrance in my store. Also, Jo Malones fragrances ROCK! I love to go into Bergdorf Goodman in NYC because they have an entire Jo Malone store inside the store.


    Thanks a bunch for stopping by, Jay! Have a fantabulous weekend!


    X

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi there Linda!

    "and really i am a #5 girl."

    You GO, girl! It's a CLASSIC! As I shared, it's THE most sold fragrance at Christmas, all over the world!

    " i like the idea of decapitating N. personally. :)"



    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!


    Thanks for stopping by, dear friend. Have a maaaavelous weekend!


    ((((((( You )))))


    xoxoxooxox

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hey there V Girl~

    "when i smell someone - well a man - and he smells good it's like catnip to me. i perk up and i'm looking him up and down and i want to follow and inhale him - but i'm not a stalker, but i do enjoy the moment."

    HAHAHAHAHAHA! I love it...catnip!!!!

    Yup, I'm like you...if I smell someone and they smell good it truly does perk me up!

    "my ex- mr. always kept himself smelling great, so much that he would leave his scent on me and i would walk around smelling myself for the next hour. i love of good smelling man."

    AMEN!

    "i don't care what the bottle looks like, well i didn't care until i saw the last photo, never would i buy that creepy mess. even if i like it. that's the first bottle of perfume i saw that i wouldn't buy because of the way it looks."



    HA! Isn't that a CREEPY bottle? And the scent is nothing spectacular. But guess what? We sell a TON of it!


    To each his own, I guess.


    Thanks for stopping by, girl! Have a super weekend!


    X

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hiya Mel~

    Thank you, dear lady. I took these photos so fast while I was at work on Wednesday, I didn't know if any of them would turn out. I did do a bit of photo editing on them though.

    "I can't say I know anything about fragrances in a bottle. I don't do perfume--Don't get me wrong, I have a basket FULL of them......seems other people think I DO do perfumes. *laughing* I can't toss them--the bottles are too pretty and they were gifts, dontchaknow."

    Yes, there are many people who are sensitive to fragrance, so it's almost impossible for them to wear fragrance of any kind unless it's light, clean and natural smelling. That's why I love Bvlgari fragrances because there are made with the most natural ingredients. The company grows all there own flowers and herbs that go into their fragrances. My mother was highly allergic to fragrance, but she could wear Bvlgari.

    "Really, some of my strongest memories come with scents attached to them. And one of them is Channel No.5 which my step-mother wore as her scent, religiously."

    Ah...so she was a Chanel No. 5 lady? There are still so many women who still wear that fragrance religiously. It's a classic!

    "I hear tell my birth mother wore Evening in Paris. LOL I remember that blue bottle well........just not the scent. I wonder if they still make that one-- Probably not, huh? ;-)"

    OMG...yes, I remember that fragrance and bottle!!!! However, I don't know if they still make it. I'll have to Google that later to see if they do. That was another classic!

    "Oh......and I'll advise himself--if he sees that 'stuff' going on at the grocery store, it's the perfume! And he should STAY OUT OF THE TRISCUIT AISLE!"



    HAHAHHAAHAHAHA! Wasn't Marks comment HILARIOUS????


    Yes, the holiday festivities have been very minimal for me this year. I'm too dang tired, so I'm planning on laying low on New Years Eve with a good movie and a glass of red wine. I have the whole month of January off - yahoooooo!


    Thanks oodles for stopping by, dear lady. Have a terrific weekend!


    ((((((( You )))))))


    X


    P.S. hope your leg is healing well!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Love this, Ron! I adore the Juicy too, but find that it doesn't last long on me. I've been using DKNY Be Delicious for years, so if you have a recommendation along that scent, let me know. Although maybe I need to get me some of that Roberto, cuz I'm at the grocery a lot, and it could really use some livening up! Roar!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hey there Bijoux~

    " I adore the Juicy too, but find that it doesn't last long on me."

    You're right, because I've heard more customers say the same thing about it not lasting. And I think it's odd because the scent is full-bodied, so I would think that it had some staying power.

    "I've been using DKNY Be Delicious for years, so if you have a recommendation along that scent, let me know."

    I LOVE DKNY Be Delicious! In fact, one of my close friends at work actually works specifically for the Donna Karan fragrances. Be Delicious is probably one of our biggest sellers at the store - people love it!

    The closest fragrance I can think of that's similar to Be Delicious would be Omnia Coral from Bvlgari (it's the orange bottle you see in the photo above). It's a lot like DKNY because it's fresh and fruity, but very natural smelling. And it lasts LONG on your skin. The next time you're out shopping, check it out. I think you will like it.

    "Although maybe I need to get me some of that Roberto, cuz I'm at the grocery a lot, and it could really use some livening up! Roar!"

    Bwhahahahahhhaha!

    Thanks for stopping by, my friend. Have an AWESOME weekend!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  31. My favorite cologne, which I continually go back to is John Varvatos (the original). It's masculine, but not overly strong. The next time I'm at the mall I will have to try the one you wear because I'm always up for experimenting with a new fragrance.



    Great photos, Ron! The Nicki Minaj bottle is scary. It looks like a robot!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Howdy Robert~

    "My favorite cologne, which I continually go back to is John Varvatos (the original)."

    OMG...I CANNOT believe you mentioned that cologne because it's one of my favorites too!!! I love it because it smells like cedarwood and I LOVE the smell of cedar! I had a bottle several years ago, but used it all up. And you're right, it's very masculine without it being too strong.

    I have a tendency to like fragrances that have a lot of wood and spicy notes. They seem to work well on my own skin.

    " The next time I'm at the mall I will have to try the one you wear because I'm always up for experimenting with a new fragrance."

    I think you would like it because it has cedarwood in it, like Varvatos! Ask them for a sample so that you can try it for a few days to see if you like it.

    "The Nicki Minaj bottle is scary. It looks like a robot!"



    HA! It sure does!


    Thanks for stopping by, buddy. Have a wonderful weekend!


    X

    ReplyDelete
  33. wow, great collection. I'm partial to the heavy looking old fashioned bottles. After seeing this assortment, I can totally understand passing on a fragrance purchase because of the bottle design. Like there's just no way you'd find the Nicki minaj product in my house. the whole experience of interacting with the fragrance would be too extreme. maybe I'm a wimp. my fave is Heremes 24 Faubourg, but I've been wearing Prada Milano for the past couple of years too. But I like the way you described Truth-dare-naked and will remember to check it out.


    I also noted that you failed to mention Justin Bieber's fragrance. Just out of curiosity, was that a brisk selling item this season? :)


    Happy new year to you dear friend. We've been out of town but were fortunate enough to enjoy a wintry white Christmas.


    sending love, diane

    ReplyDelete
  34. As I sit here reading this with a scented candle burning.. well, you know I like fragrance!!
    Don't really have a fav perfume at the moment. The most recent scent I bought was just a Jovan White Musk body spray from CVS. Classy, eh?? LOL
    On the perfume shelf in my bedroom is ... an assortment of Calvin Klein. I prefer 'Contradiction', but also, 'Escape'. Ron likes 'Vivid', by Liz Claiborne, on me but I don't wear it often as I don't like as much.
    Your comment about gardenia reminded me of many years ago when my girlfriend and I had a perfume fight in the mall and I got doused with 'Island Gardenia', which I ended up liking quite a bit for awhile. What I have with gardenia's now is 'In Bloom', a Reese Witherspoon fragrance I got when my daughter sold Avon.
    I also have 'Red Door', altho I think I like it more in the bottle than on me. And I have 'Anais Anais', which I don't wear often, but do like a lot. Reminds me of my Nan Nan who bought me my first bottle of it. I have some 'Opium' bath creme, had the perfume years ago but it was a little too strong on me. However, I do like an oil called 'Tunisian Opium' but probably only because patchouli wasn't available and I wanted something heavy like that at the time. Hey, speaking of patchouli... do you know of any perfumes with that scent available these days. A friend of mine was looking for it but can't seem to find anything.
    I'm definitely due for a new scent. Most perfume is generally more expensive than I care to spend though.
    As for men's cologne, I don't have any preference because Ron doesn't wear it. My father used an after shave, but never much, if any, cologne either. So when I smell anything on men it tends to be a little too strong because I'm not used to it. I do remember liking Musk for Men, years ago.

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  35. Hey there Diane~

    "After seeing this assortment, I can totally understand passing on a fragrance purchase because of the bottle design. Like there's just no way you'd find the Nicki minaj product in my house. the whole experience of interacting with the fragrance would be too extreme."

    Exactly! Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and seeing that bottle on your dresser? I'd scream - hahahahahhahaha!

    "my fave is Heremes 24 Faubourg, but I've been wearing Prada Milano for the past couple of years too."

    I LOVE anything from HEREMES!!!! I used to work with a woman in Florida who also wore 24 Faubourg. What a GREAT fragrance that is! Also, Prada Milano! I really like the original Prada too - spicy and warm.

    "I also noted that you failed to mention Justin Bieber's fragrance. Just out of curiosity, was that a brisk selling item this season? :)"



    Funny you mentioned Justin Bieber's fragrance because when it first came out we sold a TON of it - mainly to younger girls who are big fans of his.


    I think the biggest seller this season was Prada Candy.


    Much thanks for stopping by, my friend. So glad to hear you enjoyed a wintry white Christmas - isn't it magical to have snow on Christmas? We suppose to get a lot more this weekend.


    X to you and Cristybella!

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  36. RON RON RON REMEMBER ME!!!???? I have been off the web a while... but I'm back! WOOT! I love your photos, they are gorgeous. And seeing the bottles... WOW. Some are CRAZY cool.

    I have allergies and can only do a few scents, if any. I actually enjoy body washes and powders more than anything. Then I can enjoy the smell but not be "perfumey." I hate going to church or a closed in space and being overwhelmed by someones sickningly sweet cheap perfume. So I am careful not to do it myself.

    My favorites? I am a Paloma Picasso girl at heart. I LOVE the body wash and the powder. LOVE LOVE it. I like Fendi but can't wear the pefume and don't have the other products if they have them. I also love Niki de Saint Phalle... but above all else it is Paloma.
    So question. Do you know these scents? Do I tend to gravitate towards a particular type of fragrance? And if so, what else would I like?

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  37. Hellooooooooooooo Mary!

    Yup...I had a feeling you would identify with this post because of our mutual love of fragrance!!!!

    "The most recent scent I bought was just a Jovan White Musk body spray from CVS. Classy, eh?? LOL"

    OMG...I cannot believe you mentioned Jovan Musk because I wore the men's version of that for YEARS. I actually love that fragrance. To me, it doesn't matter how expensive or not expensive a fragrance is because it's all about how good it smells on you. So if Jovan Musk works for you, why not wear it?

    "What I have with gardenia's now is 'In Bloom', a Reese Witherspoon fragrance I got when my daughter sold Avon."

    I had no idea Reese Witherspoon had a fragrance!!?!? I love the smell of real gardenia's, but not so much in a fragrance because they can't extract the true essence of a gardenia for a perfume. Therefore, they have to manufacture it by combining various other flowers together to create the scent of gardenia. A lot of time they use tuberose and I'm not a big fan of tuberose.

    "Hey, speaking of patchouli... do you know of any perfumes with that scent available these days. A friend of mine was looking for it but can't seem to find anything."


    The original Prada has patchouli in it, as well as many of the fragrances from Gucci - Gucci by Gucci, Gucci Guilty or Gucci Premier. I love those fragrances because I also enjoy the scent of patchouli!


    Thanks so much for stopping by, neighbor! Hope you're having a wonderful weekend. We're supposed to get a lot of snow this weekend!


    X

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  38. *waving*

    Helloooooooooo Katherine!

    Thank you, my friend. Glad you enjoyed the photos. Aren't some of the bottles crazy cool????

    "I have allergies and can only do a few scents, if any. I actually enjoy body washes and powders more than anything. Then I can enjoy the smell but not be "perfumey.""

    Yes, I know of many people that are the same as you. They prefer wearing the body washes, powders or body lotions because the fragrance itself is just too strong.

    " I am a Paloma Picasso girl at heart. I LOVE the body wash and the powder. LOVE LOVE it. I like Fendi but can't wear the pefume and don't have the other products if they have them. I also love Niki de Saint Phalle... but above all else it is Paloma."

    Yup...I know of all those fragrances you mentioned and really like them! Paloma is an awesome fragrance, as well as the original Fendi!

    "So question. Do you know these scents? Do I tend to gravitate towards a particular type of fragrance? And if so, what else would I like?"



    I would say that you gravitate towards more 'earthy, spicy and woody" fragrances. Which is what "I" personally like too. If I use anything with a lot citrus in it, it seems to sour on me.


    You might like the fragrances from Gucci because they're more in the 'earthy, spicy and woody" category. Check out the new Gucci Premier - I LOVE it!!!


    Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you had an AWESOME Christmas!


    X

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  39. I was just thinking that you were probably busier these past few days than before Christmas. We went driving about and to the mall in little Ocala and I was horrified to realize that Ocala is going the way of Orlando! Ugh! Too many people, too many cars. I may have to move to a smaller town.

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  40. Ha! I love the Nicki Minaj bottle, but what really made me crack up? OMG I just climaxed over this cannoli! I have probably said that on a few occasions, ah-hem.....


    Happy New Year Ron!


    xo,


    Bill

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  41. Hey there Bill~

    "but what really made me crack up? OMG I just climaxed over this cannoli! I have probably said that on a few occasions, ah-hem....."



    Bwahahahahhahaha! Yeah, I had a feeling you would catch that!


    *wink*


    HAPPY NEW YEAR, BUDDY! And thanks so much for stopping by!


    X to you and Paul!

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  42. Hi there Lowell~

    "We went driving about and to the mall in little Ocala and I was horrified to realize that Ocala is going the way of Orlando! Ugh! Too many people, too many cars."



    Aw...that's such a shame because that's one of things I loved about Ocala. The fact that it was still a small town and not overly populated and commercially homogenized like Orlando.


    Hope you're having a FAB weekend, buddy!

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  43. "How do you want this fragrance to make you feel?" I LOVE this question! And no one has ever said it to me. I've only recently started wearing perfumes again and when I do they need to be very subtle because of working in a hospital. We frown upon staff who are in direct patient care from wearing it but since I have an administrative role, it's ok wear a little.

    I buy my makeup from Sephora but I never buy in the store because when you buy online, they send you three free samples. I always pick the fragrances! It's a great way to be introduced to new things I never would have found. I used to wear the same thing over and over but now I mix things up a bit! My new favorites are Coach's Poppy and DKNY's Delicious.

    And, yes, that last bottle is scary as shit!! Happy New Year, Ron! xoxo

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  44. I have lots of different fragrances but my two favourites are Jo Malone 154 Cologne for day and Jo Malaone Dark Amber and Ginger Lily for evening. What does that say about me? I do like an interesting bottle but ultimately it is the fragrance that tempts me to buy.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hey there Chrissy~

    " I've only recently started wearing perfumes again and when I do they need to be very subtle because of working in a hospital. We frown upon staff who are in direct patient care from wearing it but since I have an administrative role, it's ok wear a little."

    I have several customers who come into my store who also work at a nearby hospital and they too share the same as you. They need to wear a fragrance that's subtle. Many of them chose fragrances from Bvlgari because they are just that...subtle. The next time you're shopping try 'Crystalline' because it's faaaaaaabulous. Smells great, but not overbearing.

    "I buy my makeup from Sephora but I never buy in the store because when you buy online, they send you three free samples. I always pick the fragrances! It's a great way to be introduced to new things I never would have found."

    LOVE Sephora for that reason!

    "My new favorites are Coach's Poppy and DKNY's Delicious."

    Two great scents! Poppy is one of our biggest sellers!

    Thanks for stopping by, girl! Hope you're enjoying a super weekend!

    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    X to you and the gang!

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  46. Good morning Pearl~

    "....my two favourites are Jo Malone 154 Cologne for day and Jo Malaone Dark Amber and Ginger Lily for evening. What does that say about me?"

    I'm a HUGE fan of Jo Malone fragrances!!!! I only wish we carried them in my store because customers are always asking for it. You like fragrances that I like...natural, earthy, woody and warm, but not overbearing. I love the scent of amber!!!!



    Thanks for stopping by, m'dear! Hope you're having a fantabulous weekend!

    X

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  47. I totally agree with you about that last bottle. Ick! It's interesting because the bottle is enough of a turn off for me not to even smell the fragrance. Although, I don't think I'm the Nicki Minaj demographic anyway.
    My favorite fragrance line is Tocca. I wear Brigitte most of the time. I have to say, I also have Pleasures by Estee Lauder. Can't stand the name or that awful ad with the puppies but I do like it once in a while.

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  48. Thanks for the tips. I still love that Bulgari you so sweetly gave us although mine is almost gone now! I have been using it sparingly because I haven't had a chance to go to Macy's to see if I can find it! Thanks again for the fragrances. It was so sweet of you!

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  49. *waving*


    Hiya Peg!!!! It's so great to see you! You have been sooooooo missed in blogland!


    Hey listen, please don't buy a bottle of that because I'll send you another one. I have off for the month of January, so I'll send it sometime next month.


    Thanks for stopping by, my friend. Hope you had a MERRY CHRISTMAS!


    Happy New Year to you and Dwight!


    X

    ReplyDelete
  50. Hiya Jen~

    "I totally agree with you about that last bottle. Ick! It's interesting because the bottle is enough of a turn off for me not to even smell the fragrance."

    Meeeeeeee too! The only reason I smelled it was because it's in my store. And trust me, it's not anything great.

    "My favorite fragrance line is Tocca. I wear Brigitte most of the time. I have to say, I also have Pleasures by Estee Lauder."



    Yes, I know both of those fragrances you speak of and really like them. I used to work for Lauder MANY years ago, when Pleasures first came out.


    Thanks for stopping by, Jen. Hope you're enjoying a FAB weekend!

    X

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  51. It's interesting that not only does the sense of smell have to be appealed to, but also the sense of sight with regards to the shapes of the bottles. I would have never thought to tie the two together. I tell ya, those marketing people really have to think things out when pushing their fragrances.

    Thanks, Ron! I learned something today :-)

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  52. Howdy Herman~

    "It's interesting that not only does the sense of smell have to be appealed to, but also the sense of sight with regards to the shapes of the bottles."

    It's funny the things I've learned through my job. Some people are very visual, therefore, the bottle design is important to them.

    " I tell ya, those marketing people really have to think things out when pushing their fragrances."

    You said it, buddy!

    Much thanks for stopping by tonight. Hope you and the family had a super weekend!

    X to you, Karin, and Mr. Tyler!

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  53. Couldn't buy that Nicki Minaj no matter how fantastic is smells - SHE gives me the creeps!



    Although it's no longer "in", I've always loved Halston. The "bean" bottle was/is sleek and sexy. The fragrance is bold and earthy. Also, the old Shalimar bottle and scent. Classic.


    You're definitely correct about the Bvlgari bottle but I can't pick a favorite. Love 'em all!

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  54. "Couldn't buy that Nicki Minaj no matter how fantastic is smells - SHE gives me the creeps!"

    Amen! And truthfully, the scent is VERY uneventful. It smells like most celebrity fragrances.

    "Although it's no longer "in", I've always loved Halston. The "bean" bottle was/is sleek and sexy. The fragrance is bold and earthy. Also, the old Shalimar bottle and scent. Classic."



    OMG...I freakin' LOVE the scent of Halston!!!!!!! You and I seem to like the same type fragrances - earthy and bold.


    Aren't the Bvlgari bottles faaaaaaaaaabulous? Like a work of art!


    Thanks for stopping by, Sis!


    X

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  55. Ron this is my third time to read this and remember the fond times of my 25 years in the business and how much it changed.Back in the day it was classics and what became classics like Obsession (pure scandal) Romance and of course Giorgio rhe biggest success in modern fragrance history. Through all the years of working, in the industry, it was always the same WHAT DO I GET FREE. Something to make you laugh though, the best ever, a guy worked with us, in the Grand Court outpost, and when a customer kept going through what she could get free he finally said "all of the things I told you plus the lamp on the counter and me to plug it in for you". She looked at him and said WHAT ELSE Thought you might get a laugh out of this. Hope to see you soon

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  56. Hiya Rick!

    OMG...I'm so glad you stopped by to read this post because I know you can SO identify with my passion for fragrance!

    "Through all the years of working, in the industry, it was always the same WHAT DO I GET FREE."

    HAHHAHAAHAHAHAHA! Ain't that the truth???? And... "Me no like this color bag, does it come in BLUE?" HA!

    " "all of the things I told you plus the lamp on the counter and me to plug it in for you". She looked at him and said WHAT ELSE Thought you might get a laugh out of this."



    Bwhahahahahahahhaahaha! HILARIOUS!!!!!


    Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing the memories, buddy!


    Have a great week.....X

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