Some perfumes are so beautiful, I could cry.
Full bottles have been urgently purchased with the absolute intent of wearing them constantly, possibly even resurrecting the 'signature scent' theory.
I rarely wear them.
What's up with that?
A few that fall into this category:
Ambre Sultan
Sycomore
Cabochard
Femme
L'Heure Bleue
Fracas
Eau du Soir
It's like they are so gorgeous, they belong in another time, or at least a dimension outside of my real life.
Yeah, that's it.
No, this is really it: they reveal a side of me that is so private, so intimate, it's almost like I'm naked in public when I wear them.
Total and complete crap.
Okay, here's the reason...it's because I have so many perfumes that I just don't get around to wearing them, which is okay because wearing them cheapens their allure anyway.
Uh-huh, right.
The real reason?
I have no f-ing clue.
Do you do this? If so, what's your theory?
Image from hotref.com
Yes. When is the last time I wore Bois des Iles, Shalimar, Theo Fennel, etc?
ReplyDeleteAnd I have no clue either.
I do not know _why_ it happens this way but I've also noticed that tendency in my life and it affects not only perfumes.
ReplyDeleteFor example, I buy movies that I liked for my DVD collection. I add only those that I think are great and worthy of money and space on my shelves - and then almost never watch them again. I can't say I do not have time for them. And - owing all those great movies and shows - I usually end up watching some meaningless new episode of the N+1th spin-off of my one time favorite show or sometimes even the same movie I own if I catch it on TV.
I can't do much about it. But I'm trying to change my perfume behavior. My new year resolution was to wear my great perfume loves at least twice a week. So far I manage to keep up with it.
Hmmm...I can't say that I've bought many full bottles of my perfume loves, as most of them are vintage, thus hard to find and pricey when one does find them. Also, I am a relative newbie, still on the acquisitive up-swing. But I do find myself nodding in agreement with your attempts at reasoning this out. You've held up a mirror to my perfume behavior and I must question my own motives: why am I stockpiling these great frags but not really wearing them? Wish I could answer that...or do I? ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi Marina - I know, it's baffling, isn't it? Even when I promise to wear them, I don't. But it sure is nice to know I could...
ReplyDeleteUndinaba, hello! Congrats on actually wearing your perfumes! Your comment made me laugh because I totally get what you're saying. I do the same thing with books, food, you name it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by!
queen_cupcake, hi! I, too, avoid asking myself this question because it shines light on my obsession with perfume. But it does bug me that, to this point, I have not disciplined myself enough to wear perfume that I actually love. Still working on this one...
ReplyDeleteGood to hear from you!
I have also considered all those theories and equally drawn a blank! I think it may be a combination of 1 and 3, plus the fear of lost opportunity cost if you wear anything less that optimum on a given day - something which is always a risk when you decide consciously to rotate your collection. The scents may well be beautiful in themselves, but not what you instinctively feel like wearing, which may in fact be what you wore yesterday and the day before!
ReplyDeleteYes, I do it. I also have no clue. Further theories:
ReplyDeleteEmotion related: "So beautiful I could cry" hurts. Yeah, it's good, but it hurts, too. I need extra resources to make the good beat out the hurts.
Miserliness: If I wear it, that's one less wearing for later, when I might be running out.
Intellectual perfectionism: I shouldn't wear it unless I'm going to pay attention and appreciate it.
Manufactured scarcity: If it's that beautiful it ought to be scarce, so I shouldn't use it and make it cheap.
Preservation of specialness: If it's that beautiful, I don't want to get accustomed to it and stop perceiving the beauty, so (again) I shouldn't use it and make it cheap.
Self-deception: Maybe I don't really love it? Maybe I'm perceiving what I think I _should_ perceive as beauty, but I actually don't like it?
The following three are all close cousins:
Appearance perfectionism: I shouldn't wear that perfume unless I'm going to be beautiful, well-groomed, and charming.
Self esteem: I'm not good enough to wear this perfume.
Point and Laugh fear: People will look at me and think, "Who does she think she is, wearing something that beautiful? It's like a pig in an Easter bonnet!"
All of these? None of these? One of these? No clue.
Hi Vanessa - you're so right! I think I should be in the mood to wear them, but their uniqueness alone means they are not 'everyday' perfumes. I end up wearing the same few things over and over then feel bad because I'm ignoring others...
ReplyDeleteChickenFreak, I love your theories! You thought this through much better than I did. I particularly related to Intellectual Perfectionism (I do this with wine, too) and Self-Deception (I love the perfume in theory, but is it 'wearable love?'
ReplyDeletePerhaps as a collector (of perfume or anything else), one experiences these feelings from time to time. Nevertheless, I'm glad to have and enjoy them, even though some are worn rarely.
Thanks for your comment!
Hmm, you are right, I do this too. I believe some of the reasons can be found on CF's list (which is very well thought-out and so true). I don't know, maybe I feel like saving them so I don't need to spend money on them again and I know I will as I adore them. Which sounds like a pretty stupid reason now. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm wearing one of them tomorrow to break this strange cycle.
P.S. If you decide you are no longer friends with Ambre Sultan, I'd be happy to befriend it. ;)
Hi Ines - I'm really glad to know that others encounter this problem too! Still can't pinpoint the reason, but my blogger friends have certainly shed light on the topic.
ReplyDeleteAmbre Sultan is a beauty, isn't it? When I wear it, the weather, wardrobe and mood must be right. But when it's right, it's absolutely perfect.