September 15, 2016

You’re Banned from Buying Fragrances Right Now

I receive a small commission if you shop through my link.

fragrance-ban

I’m a really having hard time not overindulging in new fragrances lately. I admit I did buy Sarah Jessica Park’s new Stash fragrance, and the new McQueen perfume, and I’ve been going a little wild with Etsy Fall/Halloween fragrances, ugh…

Truly I hate this time of the year because some of my favorite indie and niche brands start releasing really great Fall themed items! For example, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab released the new Lilith Birthday Perfume Oils and soon after they’ll be launching their Halloweenies Perfume Oils.
This is hard.

So, here’s the deal, I’m putting us all on a fragrance ban. Don’t worry, you can still purchase from your fav indie brands but you aren’t allowed to purchase from mid-range fragrances.

Why?

I’d strongly advise against purchasing that bottle of Lancome Viva La Belle, think twice about grabbing up that Marc Jacobs Divine Decadence purchase!

Tis the season for fragrance gift sets. Many, many, many, did I say many? Many brands will be launching fragrance gift sets soon as well as gift with purchases at stores like Ulta, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus. If you can, hold out on purchasing any mainstream fragrances because by next month and into November you’ll start seeing some really great fragrance gift sets.

I’m horrible at this by the way! The worst time of the year to do this is February and into March as many new mainstream fragrances launch for Spring and soon after they are all available in Mother’s Day gift sets. This means I end up kicking myself for buying full price because soon after a gift set becomes available at the same price and includes a slew of other goodies for the price I paid for a single bottle.

You also might want to avoid mainstream right now because there are so many great niche houses launching Fall and Halloween themed fragrances and those, in my opinion, are way more unique than buying a bottle of some new Lancome fragrance. I’ll be making a list shortly for some of the places I like to shop Fall fragrances!

So, if you can, hold off!

Sephora had some incredible sampler sets last year like the Commodity Cocktail Set, several Atelier gift sets, as well as Histories de Parfums, Juilette has a Gun, and Clean Fragrances! There are bound to be more.

I wish you much luck holding off!

I promise it’ll be worth it.

I receive a small commission if you shop through my link.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  • Dora

    How did you like SJP Stash? I remember you posting about it (before buying it) but don’t think I’ve seen a review? So curious — but I’m never at ULTA. I wish it was being sold at Sephora.

    • Isabella Muse

      review on the way shortly! Def worth the buy in my opinion! Very warm, masculine scent! It’s sexy! It’s not a pick if you don’t like masculine scents but if you do, you’ll love it!

      • Dana

        I am intrigued with this scent and plan on going to Ulta today to try it out… wanted the large bottle but it’s sold out online… it sounds like my kind of fragrance.

        • Isabella Muse

          I wanted the large one too but in store it was sold out. I’m sorta glad I got the smaller one though because I have a lot of fragrances to get through but the larger is the better value! Torn!

          • Alys

            I’m happy to see this is in store. When I look at it on the Ulta site it doesn’t give me the “find in store” option. I HATE blind buying fragrances. Because in all honesty I dislike about 98% of them hahaha.

          • Isabella Muse

            No kid? I’m typically luck with blind buys! rare I hate it!

  • Pandora

    Yes!!! As soon as I heard Elizabeth and James came out with new Nirvana perfumes I put myself on an immediate perfume spending ban. I am soo hoping they come out with a rollerball gift set for all the Nirvana scents.

    • Isabella Muse

      No don’t you’re not allowed ;-D They will likely do some sort of gift set with rollerballs, I don’t doubt it. Wait 😀

  • diane

    i’ll definitely hold off and wait for gift sets! I’ve been on a fragance ban trying to use some up though ironically, my blog tomorrow is on a fragrance. LOL i really hope replica has some kind of set at Sephora because I really want Lipstick On AND By the Fireface!! Btw, By The Fireplace reminds me of a perfume version of the BBW Marshmallow Fireside candle! It’s so good!! Ut oh, i’m enabling LOL. Love ya! (p.s. still no ebay response!!!!)

    • Isabella Muse

      I have so many but I keep purchasing more. Totally banned myself from anything mainstream until the Holidays as I’ll kick myself if I buy something expensive and it ends up being available in a set! I have it 😀 I reviewed it a few months ago, compared it to BBW haha great minds think alike! I have Lipstick On as well but actually like by the fireplace much better! Ugh really?????

      • diane

        oh man how did i miss your review?? i’m sorry!! and def with the great minds 😉 as soon as i commented before, i went on snapchat right after only to find out edward bess is releasing a fragrance soon. temptation temptation. lol

          • diane

            i swear it’s like the universe said “fragrance ban, muse? oh really?! muahahahahahahaha”

  • Dee

    I’m relieved the ban didn’t start yesterday as I did pick up the small Elizabeth and James bourbon scent and a Jo Malone. But I’m done now I promise!

  • Emily Hertler

    So the Maison Margiela Replica Discovery Set for her, $65 for SIZE 3 x 0.34 oz, get it now or do you predict better deals?

    • Isabella Muse

      It’s an old set, I predict better deals. I can’t say for sure, but I imagine they’ll do something nicer for the Holidays and if not, that set won’t sell out, it’ll likely be there during 20% off 🙂

      • Emily Hertler

        Many thanks! This is my first holiday season as a true beauty addict, so I appreciate your veteran insight!

      • Emily

        Many thanks! This is my first holiday season as a true beauty addict, so I appreciate your veteran insight!

        • Isabella Muse

          Aw my pleasure Emily! <3! I hope I can help a little bit more as the seasonal palettes/collections arrive!!!

  • Dana

    I am interested in the new Jo Malone Basil & Neroli perfume but don’t think this brand does value sets?? Does anyone know? I’m thinking at best I’ll hold off on buying it and perhaps I’ll wait for Nordstroms to do a perfume campaign that might give me some extra “perks” with the purchase.

    • Isabella Muse

      Jo does indeed do gift sets, I can’t say of Basil & Neroli will be one but hopefully 😀 There are a lot of mini sets around the Holidays from the brand and also deluxe scents with lotions/candles!

  • Lorrie

    Good idea. I bought the Elizabeth & James Nirvana Bourbon and the Rose rollerball last month. Love them both. I have the black one as well. I’ve been looking over some of the new releases. You can satisfy your cravings with samples. I just got three of the Montale scents, Roses Musk being my favorite from Lucky Scents.

    Speaking of older perfumes, I was looking at the Vermont Country Store online for Halloween stuff and they have a great selection of older and newer scents and even make-up. They have some French Violet, Rose and Lavendar in pretty bottles. They have a Tuberose/Gardenia and a Tuberose Eau de Parfum I want to try as one of my favorites is Miller Harris Tuberose. They have some roll on oils. One I loved as a teen, Charlie and also White Shoulders. They also have a French Eau de Cologne Sampler set. Coty Emeraude, which I don’t remember smelling, but it’s a cute bottle for 15 bucks. One from the Blue Grass of Kentucky, some English Tweed. A cream mascara I want to try that looks very interesting and this beautiful vintage metal tube of Besame lipstick. And for Halloween, two Halloween Hurdy Gurdies, adorable, Halloween candies and Halloween soap on a rope.

    • Isabella Muse

      Oh yes I did a post about them a while back ago and they have a ton of oldies but goodies. They have have old vintage shampoos like Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific 🙂 I order from them quite often for a variety of things including makeup and beauty 😀 You should out Victorian Trading Co as well, they have some lovely stuff!

  • Carol G

    Funny you mention this, as I put myself on this same ban recently. I really want the new Coach perfume but told myself to wait patiently as there will be sets arriving shortly in stores/online. 🙂

    • Isabella Muse

      likewise on coach! I smelled it, liked it, but refused to buy it, as I’m positive you’ll do a gift set 😀 Good for you for waiting!

  • Lauren

    Lol, I could never go on a no-buy for perfume! I just got back from a cruise, and picked up Bvlgari Goldea, Annick Goutal Ninfeo Mio, and Annick Goutal Nuit Etoilee while we were in Grand Cayman. I was super-surprised to see the Annick Goutal scents, since I’d never seen them in one of the duty-free perfume stores before (plus, they were a really great price). Love them all!

    • Isabella Muse

      I am always lucky to find Annick in the Bahamas and at great prices 😀 I’m glad you got them in Grand Cayman, my next trip there I’ll have to look for them 😀

      • Lauren

        They were at LA Parfumerie in the Bayshore Mall on George Town! They had several different scents, and they were all $29/bottle.

          • Lauren

            Yep, they’re definitely legit! I snapped them up very quickly!

          • Isabella Muse

            hell I would have too! I’ve never spent $29 on Annick!!!!!! that’s for free!

          • Lauren

            I think they may have been clearancing them out. The sales lady said that they used to be much more expensive. They were all the way down on a bottom shelf on one of the back rows. I did a double-take when I saw them and saw the price, lol. I wish now that I’d taken a little more time to browse the rest of the scents, but my cousin was along and she isn’t much of a fragrance-freak. If I had, I probably would have come back with some others, too, lol.

          • Isabella Muse

            $29 is a freaking deal! They are $150 and upwards! GREAT haul Lauren 🙂 enjoy!!!!!