Ridiculously verbose reply...with a few helpful (hopefully) suggestions...
Sometimes I feel getting fantastic fragrances is like the lottery.
I have to rely on description, reviews and sometimes just dumb luck to be able to get any fragrance oils that I love.
Testerbottles are out of the question because shipping is so insane to Norway, that it is better for me to take a chance and just get a big bottle right away, and hope for the best.
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But then you get the bottle in hand, and you just don`t know what these guys have been sniffin` lately, to be able to come up with descriptions that isn`t even close to what I smell.
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But then again, it all could be just my nose...
I realize that you were probably just looking to commiserate with all of us struggling with the same issues. I can certainly do so. Whether it is a bottle of wine or perfume, even accurate descriptions fail to convey proportion. Is the "note" listed prominent or only discernible to the truly discriminating? Am I the only one disappointed that Jo Malone's Lime, Mandarin, and Basil was so lime-centric and mandarin-light or at the number of fruity descriptions ("redolent of honeyed nectarines") for dry wine? My personal pet peeve is descriptions that are evocative of a feeling only with no actual information. (Mad Oils' Hedonic Tonic comes to mind; the description is quoted below).
This libidinous fragrance is sure to get your pheromones flowing. With hints of sage and light subtle minty undertone, this energizing potion is decidedly decadent. Men are drawn to this scent when asked to choose a fragrance for themselves.
Concocted in our pleasure lab, Hedonic Tonic will not disappoint. Super fresh and perfect for the warmer months! Smells unique and yet.... something familiar is in there.
If the sage is subtle and the mint an undertone, what the heck is it that you smell? Is there a comparison to draw...Irish Spring, Herbal Essence Shampoo, herb garden with tomato plants in place of rosemary, etc) In fairness, I bought the stuff just to figure it out...so the marketing works.
Whether or not you were looking for suggestions, I have actually figured out a few solutions that work for me. I don't live OUTCONUS, but still want to minimize wasting money, fuel, packaging, and space on scents I should have known I would hate.
First, if the FO happens to be a dupe (as almost all of Nurture's are), I consult Fragrantica. They have a section of iconography that tells you the notes that appear in the fragrance, and more importantly, one that represents users' rankings of what they discern. Sweet Cakes lists the notes in their Hermes Eau des Merveilles dupe, but consulting Fragrantica gives me this helpful graphic (Labels appear when you hover the mouse over the images on the site; the following, in order, on the "Perfume Pyramid" are: orange, lemon, elemi resin, amber, pink peppercorn, violet, pepper, fir, oakmoss, cedar, and vetiver.)
When I am deliberating on an FO that is specific to a vendor, I call customer service. This serves several purposes. While scent is certainly subjective, the representative is not attempting to decorate their description with poetic prose. They usually only mention distinguishable notes in the order that they perceive them. More importantly, I am typically on the hunt for a particular component to complete a vision. I can articulate exactly what it is that I am in pursuit of and what I am not:
-a straight ocean scent with no discernible floral, fruit, or woods
- the smell of fresh snow as opposed to a winter landscape of spruce or pine
I can also ask a question specific to my concerns that may help me choose between vendors. I have found that even people who are not glib of tongue often have definitive answers to inquiries framed for multiple choice or yes/no responses.
- Is your iteration of OMH more almond-centric, spicy, creamy, or heavy on the sugar?
- Is the lavender in "Chamomile Lavender" the more traditional, camphorous 40/20 variety or a floral rendition akin to the flowers in bloom?
- Is "Maculine Musk" the scent of a sexy man...or his cologne?
- Would you classify "Hydrogen" as a water scent?
I know that not all companies provide a that level of customer service. However, it has became a litmus test as to whether I will order from them. Sweet Cakes lost me early because of its unwillingness to respond to any question, regardless of how basic, by phone or email. ( Despite the IFRA party line they spouted, I wanted to know which of the fragrances I would like to order contained DEP.) Frankly, I am willing to pay more money to support those businesses that support me as I feel it is less costly/wasteful long-term.
I am currently most impressed with Nurture Soap, Mad Oils, and Majestic Mountain Sage, Bramble Berry, and Camden Grey. NS, MO, and MMS almost always have a knowledgeable human available to answer the phone! Nuture gets a special shout out for the owner personally taking my call and fixing an inventory glitch to allow me to place a single order (hence a single shipping fee). Bramble Berry rarely answers the phone but always returns those messages left by 4:00pm that day. Camden Grey is never available by phone, but has been quick to reply to any questions or concerns submitted by email.
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