The niche quality thing is oversold. To the average person (which is 99% of people we encounter) they cannot distinguish between a good designer or a niche. The number one reason why people get niche is exclusivity not necessarily because the niche smells so much better.
Couple to *enhance* this list: 1. When you sample, take notes and keep an open mind. It can be hard to remember how you felt about a fragrance or what you could detect. As your nose gains experience your tastes will change. Don't be afraid to revisit a fragrance and change your mind. 2. Understand there are many different ways to create a note or accord. You may note like the way one house does rose for example...but don't immediately write off anything with rose. There may be another company out there that does it just the way you like.
Tip 6 was the biggest game changer for me. I tend to reach for mid - high designers more than anything in my collection. Don’t bother with too many cheapies. I’ve sold most of mine now still have a few of the rare good ones. Ultimately I spend less now. One fragrance a month that I love rather than 4-8 cheapies that are just ok. Setting a budget helps. I saved up for 8 weeks to buy 100ml of Sauvage Elixr. Next year I will probably only buy 3-4 fragrances but they will be special and considered purchases. I have enough fragrances for 10 lifetimes so it’s quality moving forward. Omar has absolutely nailed this video. It feels like he is talking from his own experiences. I would consider myself disciplined with money but this hobby can get out of control. You must set some rules and principles if you want to stay for the long game.
I enjoyed searching for good cheapies and clones at the start of my fragrance journey, but I've grown to appreciate the quality of the real deal perfumes. Cheap fragrances might smell "90%" like to original, but in my experience more often than not a part of them smells harsh and, well... cheap. After wearing them for some weeks or months, my nose starts having issues with the low quality ingredients, something I'm yet to encounter with "good" perfumes.
Yup. Even designer frags are super good still imo. I don't ever see a day, barring a reformulation, of never liking Guerlain L'homme Ideal EDP, Azzaro Wanted by Night, or TF Ombré Leather. Lordy all three are 🔥
@@megaman2016 and here we go...and for a powerhouse work scent? I actually enjoy CDNIM EDP and EDT. I don't look at them as being Aventus replacements. I've had a decant of the OG and wow the layers and quality are undeniable. But I enjoy it! H3ll with it!!! The EDT is smoky and the EDP is smooth. I generally like Armaf vs Rasasi vs Lattafa vs others. Stuff doesn't give me cheapie headaches. 🤷🏻♂️ Have 4 itgink
I agree, i bought Al Haramain détour noir because people said it was the best PDM Layton clone and i didnt like it. I did like Armaf Craze clone of PDM Pegasus, really nice in my opinion.
Do not buy 100 ml bottles. If you already have a large collection, you will never use them to the end. Yes, if you use only two or three bottles, then this is beneficial. But if your collection is large, then this is a waste of money on liquid that you will not have time to spend.
@@BarelyHumanAtThisPoint A sample size, 5 to 10. If you love it and blow through it and wanna use it all the time then you can commit to that full bottle.
If I want a super nice (expensive) fragrance that I won’t wear to frequently (for example night out scent) I just buy a 5ml sample. Much cheaper way of getting expensive quality fragrances if you just want to wear them occasionally.
Last month I bought my first fragrance and it was a 200ml bottle of YSL Y EDP. I chose this one because I wanted something that I could wear every day to school or basically anywhere. I have tested it in a local store and I really liked the scent, and decided to go for a bigger bottle, as it is higher quantity for lower price. Something I didn't think about, though, is that it has apparently been reformulated and the batches after April 2022 perform much worse than the ones everybody was praising. At first I really liked it, but soon I realized that for me it projects very poorly. You have to really get your nose very close to the points where I sprayed in order to feel it. And the performance is not even close to the 12 hours people were talking about, or even 8. It's more like 5-6 hours for me, but the aromatic apple scent goes away in 1-2 hours. My batch is from 22-09 and the batch code is 22W91ST. I really like the scent, but I am sad about the fact that I spent a good amount of money on a fragrance nobody can smell. Do you have any tips for avoiding these kinds of situations in the future?
You could be going nose blind to it because you use it every day. Give it a break for a week and come back to it. Ask others if they can smell it on you when you cannot.
I think you're going noseblind to it. Don't spray it on your chest for awhile. While I have a 2021 batch it will last for days if I spray the inside of my coat and leave it hanging.
I was in Paris recently and being able to go to these niche houses like Parfums de Marly, Kilian or Diptyque and smell them directly in the store helped a lot. I'd never blind buy such an expensive perfume. I have more test samples than actual bottles and I'm glad that I have not spend 300 bucks on a hyped perfume I don't even really like that much.
Anything over 200 just order a 1ml sample or a sample set. Spend extra on the front end to make sure it’s really something you will like. Don’t buy anything on a credit card/after pay/any cash advance that you can’t pay off before the end of the month. Accidents happen to pop up and cost money all of the time. Guys going into debt just to smell good is not worth it. I know someone needs to hear this.
Thanks Omar! As someone who has the horrible habit of checking discounters everyday and always wanting to buy a new fragrance, it’s nice to hear your perspective and honestly helps out a lot 💪🏻
Spot on, I've been selling a lot of my "cheapie" fragrances or fragrances I bought cause it was a good deal and not so much about the scent. I wanted to bulk up my collection but 90% of my perfumes I don't use cause I have better ones in my collection which I much prefer. At the most of my collection I had roughly around 120 fragrances, a mixture of cheapies and high-end/niche fragrances, now I'm down to around 90. (Not including indie fragrances). Like everyone else is saying at the start of your journey you want quantity over quality. But it comes back to bite you in the ass!
Great video. Common sense and right to the point. Also good because it doesn't have the drama and "acting" you see in other videos of people talking about fragrances.
Clutch video. I’m guilty of diving into new hobbies very quickly so my budget was the first thought when starting to explore fragrances. Love being able to buy samples and travel sizes. Really helps me figure out if I like it, and even more importantly if my wife likes it.
I cant agree enough with the last point. I now have a child and my wife is the one I am around 24-7. No matter how much Ive loved a fragrance, if it irritates her it's basically worthless since we are together all the damn time. It is what it is. Good point.
if your young and don’t have anything to do on a weekday or weekend just go to a bunch of shops that sell fragrances and ask for a bunch of samples of ones you like or want to try and you can get designer ones that will last you about a week each for free and then just repeat it whenever your running out.
Love your content Omar. I have a small collection including fragrances such as Naxos, Oud Maracuja, Hard Candy Elixir, Baraonda and more… I don’t have any cheapies but have heard good things about Afnan Turathi Blue, is it worth getting?
The brick and morter one is important go there talk to staff smell something. And get extra samples with you purchase. My general rule of tumb is it less than 10 bucks cheaper online don't go through the trouble just buy it there it builds the relationship and safe yourself the shipping headache
Solid! I grant them 10%.. or a bit more... but it's rarely enough to buy from them, unfortunately... I'd prefer to purchase from people/brick & mortar... but 90% of my purchases are still online.
Encourage that last tip on testing at a local store. Easy way to discover new fragrances without the pressure of a blind buy. I discovered Masculin Pluriel after a random store visit to the Saks in my area this way.
I 100% agree with you on going Niche. I have a few designers and I find that for my skin I need higher concetrated/quality fragrances. My first niche is Intense Cedrat Boise and my skin loves it. Looking towards Parfums De Marly next. (Big fan of Mr Copeland btw.)
A solid post, my man. Long time subscriber. Watching a ton of reviews to start (I started with Jeremy, then moved on) saved me from buying mistakes. You nailed it. I started with some solid choices (Prada L., Encre Noire, D&G Lt. Bl. Int. Mont Bl. Ind., Issey). Now? Layton, Ani, Ombre Leather, TD Hermes, Nio, Naxos, Oud Wood. Never looking back, jack. Now, I know which I'd like to add and will only get them when the online sources have a great sale. No impulse buying, period!
@SchoolofScent Good video... I just started collecting and I got carried away and spent a lot of money in a short time. However, you mentioned clones and samples. Some Fragrances are hard to find a samples for them or a tiny samples for a lot of money. So, some times I buy a will known cheap clones to sample an expensive fragrance 😅
Good solid advice there is that rabbit hole mentality that you have to keep in check. Hype and Blindbuying equals a lot of dust collection bottles… My daily wear have been surprisingly the one that kinda find you not you finding it.. Good video thanks
Good points! I think many people walk into the pitfalls you’re describing.. myself included.. I found out there are a few cheapies I really like, and a relative few niche (considering the amount that’s out there).. But the high quality designers from Dior, Chanel, Hermes, Tom Ford SC (not PB) are almost all bangers!
One of the most important videos yet!... Thank you Omar. No comments! I won't get plenty of CHEAPIES any more. I won't invest in too many Clones. I will rather SAVE for the best. And I will go the NICHE way. Thanks a lot, Omar.
¹Always test frag on your skin first. ²Buy the bottle you want. Don't be cheap. ³Always shop discounters first. ⁴Don't buy more them 5 bottle, you can't wear them all. ⁵Have a diverse collection for seasonal, casual/formal, indoor/ outdoor. ⁶50ml is the sweet spot because you can travel with them and reapply. Only go bigger if it's your signature scent.
I have to save up for months for my next fragrance so I make absolutely sure that I know the smell, its something I like and that I find it at a good price. My next purchases are le beau edt and the most wanted
I cant agree more with all the points touched in this video, especially on the clone and cheapies points. You don't need hundreds of fragrances and you can do everything with 20 or less. You can do it all with 5 honestly. Im going to get rid of the 5-7 clones I bought when I started that I no longer wear which I could have bought 1-2 niche bottles on the grey market (discounters) and loved. Mid range designers like the house of Dior and their current Homme line are amazing, Hermes, Prada, Guerlain and so on. These are quality that can be had for a discount that are $10- $40 more than these clones and have no funk, rubber, dusty smell that you have to deal with and are daily drivers that can rival some niche scents. This is what I think of clothing. Instead of shopping at marshalls and getting 4 polos (which I may wear only 1 every now and then) I will just buy 1 expensive polo that I love and wear the heck out of it. The fit is right, it's made of good quality materials, and I enjoy wearing it. Just my take but thanks Omar I think you really hit it on the head with this video and I hope it gets a ton of views because people need to hear this. One last thing. Find good sites that sell travel size decants. For scents that are super seasonal/for special occansions, and very expensive, just get a big 10ml decant. I have 10mls of cold weather scents that lasted me over a year since I have so many frags and I only wear them every once in a while.
Went down the rabbit hole and ended up with 200 bottles within my first 6 months. It didn't break my bank but still, not needed. I ended up creating this weird fear of using my favorites. Scaled down to 30 and now I actually use my bottles.
I started with a few cheap one and 3 bath and body work scents that are good but i havent touched in a few months and went straight into a designer like spicebomb and mostly all niche like 6 pdms and xerjoff and one amouage
Just if I would've known this way before. I had buying sprees and bought things in $2k range, most of them cheaper ones. Own two 150ml bottles of Chanel allure Homme edition blanche and they are all my pride in my collection just because I love how they smell. Have ordered a discovery set from PDM, we'll see how they go and maybe buy some (I'm super interested in Althaïr)
Dude blue jeans is amazing . Atleast the bottle I have from 2008 is still great . I herd some people say it’s alil different now . Idk how true that is but blue jeans is still around for a reason
awesome tips for beginners, but I gotta say that flankers are not all crap. For example, some are really different from the base frag. Gucci Guilty Absolute and Lalique's Voyageur come to mind. But I do get your point. Thumbs up for the video, tho!
I love it, I don't think its for everyone due to its lipstick/makeup kind of smell. I think smell it first (on skin not on a tester strip) and if you like it then buy it. that's what I did I its now one of my favorites.@@samrath82
I also think beginners should focus earlier on niche. But i would say something like the L‘homme ideal line from guerlain is perfect for that. They are cheap and easy to like but so special and unique. plus they have better quality than 80% of the niche houses.
i originally just needed to find a new signature sent, after using le male from age 19-36 i decided i wanted to try something new. was looking at le male le perfum, but it was slightly expensive to take a gamle on. so i ended up buying 27 different fragrances, yet none of them were le perfum.
Wanted to say thank you for the video I started my journey right before covid and like a magician you predicted exactly what happened to me, had over 100 reviews in my cologne Playlist now I'm down to 50 mostly niche, i now look at this hoddy like art collecting😂😂😂
In my experience so far a lot of cheapies and clones smell a lot better and higher quality than a lot of designer fragrances. I have bought some cheapies that smell like ass, but some of them smell like heaven. It's quite hit or miss just like designer fragrances.
Agreed about not buying a bunch of clones. Cheapies do have a place though. For example I like strong fragrances but this leads to nose blindness a lot so some days I take a break for a week and if I forget I have an appointment I will grab an easy on the nose cheap fragrance like HUGO Iced and it done the job. Flankers I agree I wish I never bought Y EDP. I prefer the EDT. I am at the stage now i have about 60 designers and they we’re beginning to smell very similar and now I am buying Xerjoff, PDM, along with some leaser known houses like Lorenzo Pazzaglia and for my indie fragrances I go to Aaron. Discovery kits are definitely a must when you get to this part of your collection. It has saved me hundreds along with helping me find some that I love like Pegasus Exclusif, Xerjoff Soprano, 40 Knots and more. Aaron has fragrances that are on par and above and beyond some niche fragrances imo and he does 10ml bottles to try them out before buying his amazing 50ml bottles that are pressurised in a way I have never seen before. They are like super soakers lol. Good video 🙂 Oh and when you do find a Xerjoff you like you get a free discovery kit with your order with 4 samples of your own choice. I love that.
I never understand why people go for náutica voyage… it’s just not very good, you can literally save a little more and get something that is actually quality. I also don’t understand why people start, “collecting”. It shouldn’t be about getting 50 bottle in one year because you’re obsessed with it, get a couple of perfume bottles that you love, and if you really really love other perfumes, then you go ahead and buy a few at a time, but it kind of defeats the purpose of wearing perfumes if you have 50 perfumes that are 100ml each…
Could you recommended maybe 2 or 3 fragrances for me to sample. I’m seeking a new scent for my upcoming wedding in mid October and would like a new scent for the day. Great video, many thanks
As a beginner in fragrance collecting, I've learned that while designer and niche fragrances are amazing, the value you get from a dupe or clone cannot be beaten. Some of these dupes can be incredibly similar, to the point where it's hard to tell the difference. It seems like it doesn't make sense to spend a lot on expensive designer and niche fragrances when you can get a dupe for a fraction of the price with almost the same quality and performance.
Meh, balance is the way. I much rather have the OG than a cheap drugstore dupe no matter how good it performs. Don't forget you also want the asthetics and prestige of the fragrance you have and wear. Like, having that Dior flask standing has obviously a much greater asthetic and prestige not only to you but others that come to you and your own confidence or better said mind/Ego knowing I'm wearing that Dior/Armani/JPG/PDM... Parfum. Of course sometimes, some Designers or Dupers offer really good quality and performing stuff that are of value and inspired by a even much more expensive fragrance but that doesn't mean you should always go for that.
Once you start smelling niche you realize the superiority of those fragrances. Don’t be fooled into thinking clones have quality on the same level, the difference between niche and designer even is apparent and clones are a step down from designer. Everyone begins with your belief but nobody stays there, it’s like buying your clothes from H&M or SHEIN
Hey mate, can you recommend or link some Facebook perfume selling groups? Would love to get into the niche but obviously don’t want to be splurging frivolously
There are some exceptions like Detour Noir which is 99.9% layton. No reason to have the OG. Also, always get samples first. Use the whole 5ml, wear it on different days and occasions and if it fits you, get the full bottle.
if you are short on budget however, focus on clone fragrances. for a developing country like mine, every dollar counts, if i am spending 10x the price, I expect at least 7x the quality. A meal is worth $2 so I no way I gonna spend hundreds of dollars on a perfume that is marginally better than a $10 Lattafa clone, $25-$30Afnan clone. I would hesitate to spray generously too if I spending that much
Yeah but you have to go through many fragrances to find what you like. Even samples don't help much. You have to test fragrance on skin, clothes, hot/cold weather, occasion, number of sprays etc. And the grass always looks greener on the other side.
I'm a totally newbie in this fragrance universe. So is it better for me to have, let's say, a Davidoff Coolwater that is considered safe & (too) common fragrance for daily use, instead of 2 clones of higher tier fragrance (Lattafa Asad + Khamrah) for daily and night use for the same budget? Any suggestions welcome
From one newbie to another, buy samples, sample sets, or decants. I wouldn’t rush out to buy anything expensive. Samples are the best because they let you try before you buy. If you like fragrance, but want to build a small collection, buy small bottles. Some companies,as well as decant shops, sell smaller bottles. Also, you should buy what you like and what smells good on you. Don’t worry about the price tag. Some $35 fragrances smell great and last all day. Some $400 fragrances smell great, but last two hours. From my own personal experience, most people I encounter use one fragrance, if they use any at all. Stick to what you like. I bought my stepdad Bentley Intense for Men for Father’s Day. He really enjoys it. It’s about $40US.
I disagree about going niche. I am consuming niche fragrances for a long time and returning back to the designers. Niche is not what I expected and they are not worthy that much.
@@MrTheK1LL3R They use really high quality raw materials but their compositions are not enough to buy that much money. ı've found out that I'm a barber shop scent lover. Nothing much.
@MrTheK1LL3R a lot of perfumes from mancera, xerjoff, parfums de marley have let me down. I got burnt with layton, 40 knots, cedrat boisee intense, I kinda like them but they aren't what I love.
I live in Florida (always hot and humid) so here is my collection. I'm open to suggestions! BDC EDP Allure Homme Sport Percival Silver Mountain Water Profondo
Its the fragrances you don't use that cost the money. On a daily basis what you are actually wearing its not a crazy amount of money. I would guess most people dont actually wear more than a few dollars worth of fragrance per day. There are fragrances I've smelled and loved but didnt buy because i don't have a use case for them or they don't fit my personality.
Great video all good except the move from the high-end designer to the niche I'm not saying the niche isn't worth it I'm saying the best value for quality I think is high end designer
Hi,I enjoy watching your channel. I can suggest selling the reviewed perfumes to people who sell unboxed perfumes. So you recycle your money. Am interested in case someone wants to go this route. ❤
I've made a promise to myself to not buy cheapies and clones anymore. Only good designers or niche. I have to many bottles of perfume now so now i only buy what i really. I stick to decants and samples of niche fragrances now.
Used to spend crazy on perfumes but lately my interest on getting new fragrance has dwindled... For the last 2 months, just bought on very crazy discounted price or some local houses... I reckon I have spent more than $2000 on perfume and to make it even more ridiculous, all happened in less than a year... Glad I have lost interest in getting more bottles..
Oh man, i'm so glad that i stumbled by your channel. Not that the others are bad, but after watching couple of your videos i instantly felt that you are the real deal not a "hype manager". I have a little story of my own about buying cheapies. I wached many reviews of Nautica Voyage - everyone on youtube said - "Oh it is so good, so fresh, so worth the money". So i bought is blind. Yes, it is good smelling, yes its cheap, but it is so simple in my taste that its like you smell like 13 yo. And i never blind buy again. And i wish someone told me that before. As of the video it has very useful tips for me as a beginner in a fragrance world, thanks a lot and keep up. Sorry for my english, its not native. Shoutout from Ukraine :)
Thank you Omar. I don't tune in enough to subscribe to anyone. You scored a brace with this review. So very solid. I bought cheap frags. I have clones. And then one day poof...my nose evolved. Most of what I have is going to be given away or binned. I used to enjoy a bunch of Lattafa and now just eewww. Other staples of the "rack store" phenomena over here in America. Thankfully I do have many wet shaving artisans and let me tell you folks the good ones? Are definitely niche quality And it's hard to base any purchase on a review because Fragrence is a Journey that a person travels alone.
Nothing wrong with liking a flanker if you like it 😑 I didn’t like Sauvage EDT but loved Sauvage Parfum. Thank you flankers for catering to different peoples tastes
Another ground breaking video !! I wish you could go on and on and give more tips. I am the person who needs to follow all the tips you mentioned. It’s better later than never brother 🙏🙏 In addition going for the niche I would like to add H Candy Elixir. What’s your thoughts on it.
Research the notes in a fragrance and who created the fragrance. Avoid multiple frags that smell identical. If I had known that Alberto Morillas had created Versace Pour Homme and D&G Light Blue Eau Intense I would have only bought one and not the other. These two frags smell exactly the same.
The niche quality thing is oversold. To the average person (which is 99% of people we encounter) they cannot distinguish between a good designer or a niche. The number one reason why people get niche is exclusivity not necessarily because the niche smells so much better.
Couple to *enhance* this list:
1. When you sample, take notes and keep an open mind. It can be hard to remember how you felt about a fragrance or what you could detect. As your nose gains experience your tastes will change. Don't be afraid to revisit a fragrance and change your mind.
2. Understand there are many different ways to create a note or accord. You may note like the way one house does rose for example...but don't immediately write off anything with rose. There may be another company out there that does it just the way you like.
Tip 6 was the biggest game changer for me. I tend to reach for mid - high designers more than anything in my collection. Don’t bother with too many cheapies. I’ve sold most of mine now still have a few of the rare good ones. Ultimately I spend less now. One fragrance a month that I love rather than 4-8 cheapies that are just ok.
Setting a budget helps. I saved up for 8 weeks to buy 100ml of Sauvage Elixr.
Next year I will probably only buy 3-4 fragrances but they will be special and considered purchases. I have enough fragrances for 10 lifetimes so it’s quality moving forward. Omar has absolutely nailed this video. It feels like he is talking from his own experiences. I would consider myself disciplined with money but this hobby can get out of control. You must set some rules and principles if you want to stay for the long game.
I enjoyed searching for good cheapies and clones at the start of my fragrance journey, but I've grown to appreciate the quality of the real deal perfumes. Cheap fragrances might smell "90%" like to original, but in my experience more often than not a part of them smells harsh and, well... cheap. After wearing them for some weeks or months, my nose starts having issues with the low quality ingredients, something I'm yet to encounter with "good" perfumes.
Yup. Even designer frags are super good still imo. I don't ever see a day, barring a reformulation, of never liking Guerlain L'homme Ideal EDP, Azzaro Wanted by Night, or TF Ombré Leather. Lordy all three are 🔥
@@megaman2016 and here we go...and for a powerhouse work scent? I actually enjoy CDNIM EDP and EDT. I don't look at them as being Aventus replacements. I've had a decant of the OG and wow the layers and quality are undeniable.
But I enjoy it! H3ll with it!!! The EDT is smoky and the EDP is smooth. I generally like Armaf vs Rasasi vs Lattafa vs others. Stuff doesn't give me cheapie headaches. 🤷🏻♂️
Have 4 itgink
I agree, i bought Al Haramain détour noir because people said it was the best PDM Layton clone and i didnt like it.
I did like Armaf Craze clone of PDM Pegasus, really nice in my opinion.
@@Scentsational1get the addicted intense. Best aventus clone by far and it lasts ALL day
@@Scentsational1lmk ur collection big bro
Great video!! I spent some money on bad fragrances in the beginning. Now I've been scoring quite well
Do not buy 100 ml bottles. If you already have a large collection, you will never use them to the end. Yes, if you use only two or three bottles, then this is beneficial. But if your collection is large, then this is a waste of money on liquid that you will not have time to spend.
How many milliliters do you usually need?
@@BarelyHumanAtThisPoint A sample size, 5 to 10. If you love it and blow through it and wanna use it all the time then you can commit to that full bottle.
The video i needed ........im all bought out on good designers.....now ..im going forward with less buying but better quality .....
If I want a super nice (expensive) fragrance that I won’t wear to frequently (for example night out scent) I just buy a 5ml sample. Much cheaper way of getting expensive quality fragrances if you just want to wear them occasionally.
Last month I bought my first fragrance and it was a 200ml bottle of YSL Y EDP. I chose this one because I wanted something that I could wear every day to school or basically anywhere. I have tested it in a local store and I really liked the scent, and decided to go for a bigger bottle, as it is higher quantity for lower price. Something I didn't think about, though, is that it has apparently been reformulated and the batches after April 2022 perform much worse than the ones everybody was praising. At first I really liked it, but soon I realized that for me it projects very poorly. You have to really get your nose very close to the points where I sprayed in order to feel it. And the performance is not even close to the 12 hours people were talking about, or even 8. It's more like 5-6 hours for me, but the aromatic apple scent goes away in 1-2 hours. My batch is from 22-09 and the batch code is 22W91ST. I really like the scent, but I am sad about the fact that I spent a good amount of money on a fragrance nobody can smell. Do you have any tips for avoiding these kinds of situations in the future?
when going to the store just spray it on ur skin and test it throughout the day. simple as that
You could be going nose blind to it because you use it every day. Give it a break for a week and come back to it. Ask others if they can smell it on you when you cannot.
I think you're going noseblind to it. Don't spray it on your chest for awhile. While I have a 2021 batch it will last for days if I spray the inside of my coat and leave it hanging.
I was in Paris recently and being able to go to these niche houses like Parfums de Marly, Kilian or Diptyque and smell them directly in the store helped a lot. I'd never blind buy such an expensive perfume. I have more test samples than actual bottles and I'm glad that I have not spend 300 bucks on a hyped perfume I don't even really like that much.
Anything over 200 just order a 1ml sample or a sample set. Spend extra on the front end to make sure it’s really something you will like. Don’t buy anything on a credit card/after pay/any cash advance that you can’t pay off before the end of the month. Accidents happen to pop up and cost money all of the time. Guys going into debt just to smell good is not worth it. I know someone needs to hear this.
Thanks Omar! As someone who has the horrible habit of checking discounters everyday and always wanting to buy a new fragrance, it’s nice to hear your perspective and honestly helps out a lot 💪🏻
Spot on, I've been selling a lot of my "cheapie" fragrances or fragrances I bought cause it was a good deal and not so much about the scent. I wanted to bulk up my collection but 90% of my perfumes I don't use cause I have better ones in my collection which I much prefer. At the most of my collection I had roughly around 120 fragrances, a mixture of cheapies and high-end/niche fragrances, now I'm down to around 90. (Not including indie fragrances). Like everyone else is saying at the start of your journey you want quantity over quality. But it comes back to bite you in the ass!
This is one of the best frangrance videos I've watched!
Great video. Common sense and right to the point. Also good because it doesn't have the drama and "acting" you see in other videos of people talking about fragrances.
Clutch video. I’m guilty of diving into new hobbies very quickly so my budget was the first thought when starting to explore fragrances. Love being able to buy samples and travel sizes. Really helps me figure out if I like it, and even more importantly if my wife likes it.
I cant agree enough with the last point. I now have a child and my wife is the one I am around 24-7. No matter how much Ive loved a fragrance, if it irritates her it's basically worthless since we are together all the damn time. It is what it is. Good point.
My two favourites frag-tubers in one video, Omar and Justin!
underrated chanel!!! Probably the best plug for atrium during the niche section of the video
Tom Fords, Initios, Parfum De Marlys, a few Creeds, Xerjoffs and Amouages. Set for life, I guess.............
if your young and don’t have anything to do on a weekday or weekend just go to a bunch of shops that sell fragrances and ask for a bunch of samples of ones you like or want to try and you can get designer ones that will last you about a week each for free and then just repeat it whenever your running out.
Love your content Omar.
I have a small collection including fragrances such as Naxos, Oud Maracuja, Hard Candy Elixir, Baraonda and more… I don’t have any cheapies but have heard good things about Afnan Turathi Blue, is it worth getting?
The brick and morter one is important go there talk to staff smell something. And get extra samples with you purchase. My general rule of tumb is it less than 10 bucks cheaper online don't go through the trouble just buy it there it builds the relationship and safe yourself the shipping headache
Solid! I grant them 10%.. or a bit more... but it's rarely enough to buy from them, unfortunately... I'd prefer to purchase from people/brick & mortar... but 90% of my purchases are still online.
@@WilliamMiller-nr5gb yeah mine are also mostly online. But sometimes i just go for a look. So i don't have to wait for samples and such.
Encourage that last tip on testing at a local store. Easy way to discover new fragrances without the pressure of a blind buy. I discovered Masculin Pluriel after a random store visit to the Saks in my area this way.
I 100% agree with you on going Niche. I have a few designers and I find that for my skin I need higher concetrated/quality fragrances. My first niche is Intense Cedrat Boise and my skin loves it. Looking towards Parfums De Marly next. (Big fan of Mr Copeland btw.)
A solid post, my man. Long time subscriber. Watching a ton of reviews to start (I started with Jeremy, then moved on) saved me from buying mistakes. You nailed it. I started with some solid choices (Prada L., Encre Noire, D&G Lt. Bl. Int. Mont Bl. Ind., Issey). Now? Layton, Ani, Ombre Leather, TD Hermes, Nio, Naxos, Oud Wood. Never looking back, jack. Now, I know which I'd like to add and will only get them when the online sources have a great sale. No impulse buying, period!
I have more than 350 bottles, and you are so right !!! I GOT to chance ...You know because you ve bin there...Thanks for helping me on the way !
@SchoolofScent Good video... I just started collecting and I got carried away and spent a lot of money in a short time. However, you mentioned clones and samples. Some Fragrances are hard to find a samples for them or a tiny samples for a lot of money. So, some times I buy a will known cheap clones to sample an expensive fragrance 😅
Good solid advice there is that rabbit hole mentality that you have to keep in check. Hype and Blindbuying equals a lot of dust collection bottles… My daily wear have been surprisingly the one that kinda find you not you finding it.. Good video thanks
Good points! I think many people walk into the pitfalls you’re describing.. myself included.. I found out there are a few cheapies I really like, and a relative few niche (considering the amount that’s out there).. But the high quality designers from Dior, Chanel, Hermes, Tom Ford SC (not PB) are almost all bangers!
Great video with some great choices in there and I enjoyed it and have a blessed day
One of the most important videos yet!... Thank you Omar. No comments!
I won't get plenty of CHEAPIES any more. I won't invest in too many Clones.
I will rather SAVE for the best. And I will go the NICHE way. Thanks a lot, Omar.
¹Always test frag on your skin first. ²Buy the bottle you want. Don't be cheap.
³Always shop discounters first.
⁴Don't buy more them 5 bottle, you can't wear them all.
⁵Have a diverse collection for seasonal, casual/formal, indoor/ outdoor.
⁶50ml is the sweet spot because you can travel with them and reapply. Only go bigger if it's your signature scent.
I have to save up for months for my next fragrance so I make absolutely sure that I know the smell, its something I like and that I find it at a good price. My next purchases are le beau edt and the most wanted
I cant agree more with all the points touched in this video, especially on the clone and cheapies points. You don't need hundreds of fragrances and you can do everything with 20 or less. You can do it all with 5 honestly. Im going to get rid of the 5-7 clones I bought when I started that I no longer wear which I could have bought 1-2 niche bottles on the grey market (discounters) and loved. Mid range designers like the house of Dior and their current Homme line are amazing, Hermes, Prada, Guerlain and so on. These are quality that can be had for a discount that are $10- $40 more than these clones and have no funk, rubber, dusty smell that you have to deal with and are daily drivers that can rival some niche scents. This is what I think of clothing. Instead of shopping at marshalls and getting 4 polos (which I may wear only 1 every now and then) I will just buy 1 expensive polo that I love and wear the heck out of it. The fit is right, it's made of good quality materials, and I enjoy wearing it. Just my take but thanks Omar I think you really hit it on the head with this video and I hope it gets a ton of views because people need to hear this.
One last thing. Find good sites that sell travel size decants. For scents that are super seasonal/for special occansions, and very expensive, just get a big 10ml decant. I have 10mls of cold weather scents that lasted me over a year since I have so many frags and I only wear them every once in a while.
Went down the rabbit hole and ended up with 200 bottles within my first 6 months. It didn't break my bank but still, not needed. I ended up creating this weird fear of using my favorites. Scaled down to 30 and now I actually use my bottles.
I started with a few cheap one and 3 bath and body work scents that are good but i havent touched in a few months and went straight into a designer like spicebomb and mostly all niche like 6 pdms and xerjoff and one amouage
Great video. Is it good to buy Mr.Romantic or niche brand perfumes? Help me out.
I love blue jeans and always have, ive used 5 bottles in my life 🤷🏼♂️ Paul Gaultier was the nose behind it for Versace fyi.
Great content 👍 you got a new sub 🙂
Just if I would've known this way before. I had buying sprees and bought things in $2k range, most of them cheaper ones. Own two 150ml bottles of Chanel allure Homme edition blanche and they are all my pride in my collection just because I love how they smell. Have ordered a discovery set from PDM, we'll see how they go and maybe buy some (I'm super interested in Althaïr)
Dude blue jeans is amazing . Atleast the bottle I have from 2008 is still great . I herd some people say it’s alil different now . Idk how true that is but blue jeans is still around for a reason
awesome tips for beginners, but I gotta say that flankers are not all crap. For example, some are really different from the base frag. Gucci Guilty Absolute and Lalique's Voyageur come to mind. But I do get your point. Thumbs up for the video, tho!
yes - wish got PRADA AMBER POUR HOMME now they 300 dollars in Australia and ebay
Dior Homme Intense be robbing me of my life savings. Maccas ain't cutting it😭😭😭
Is it really that good? I am planning to buy it soon. First le male le parfum then dior homme intense!
@@samrath82smell it first
I love it, I don't think its for everyone due to its lipstick/makeup kind of smell. I think smell it first (on skin not on a tester strip) and if you like it then buy it. that's what I did I its now one of my favorites.@@samrath82
@@samrath82it really is that good 😅
This is spot on!!! Great video!
What would be your best suggestion for a lemon scent? Is under the lemon trees a good option?'
Allure Edition Blanche
u should republish this at the end of every month . timely lol
Thank you for these tips Omar this will help out a lot
I also think beginners should focus earlier on niche. But i would say something like the L‘homme ideal line from guerlain is perfect for that. They are cheap and easy to like but so special and unique. plus they have better quality than 80% of the niche houses.
Which Guerlain do you like the best?
i originally just needed to find a new signature sent, after using le male from age 19-36 i decided i wanted to try something new. was looking at le male le perfum, but it was slightly expensive to take a gamle on. so i ended up buying 27 different fragrances, yet none of them were le perfum.
Wanted to say thank you for the video I started my journey right before covid and like a magician you predicted exactly what happened to me, had over 100 reviews in my cologne Playlist now I'm down to 50 mostly niche, i now look at this hoddy like art collecting😂😂😂
In my experience so far a lot of cheapies and clones smell a lot better and higher quality than a lot of designer fragrances. I have bought some cheapies that smell like ass, but some of them smell like heaven. It's quite hit or miss just like designer fragrances.
Agreed about not buying a bunch of clones. Cheapies do have a place though. For example I like strong fragrances but this leads to nose blindness a lot so some days I take a break for a week and if I forget I have an appointment I will grab an easy on the nose cheap fragrance like HUGO Iced and it done the job. Flankers I agree I wish I never bought Y EDP. I prefer the EDT.
I am at the stage now i have about 60 designers and they we’re beginning to smell very similar and now I am buying Xerjoff, PDM, along with some leaser known houses like Lorenzo Pazzaglia and for my indie fragrances I go to Aaron.
Discovery kits are definitely a must when you get to this part of your collection. It has saved me hundreds along with helping me find some that I love like Pegasus Exclusif, Xerjoff Soprano, 40 Knots and more.
Aaron has fragrances that are on par and above and beyond some niche fragrances imo and he does 10ml bottles to try them out before buying his amazing 50ml bottles that are pressurised in a way I have never seen before. They are like super soakers lol. Good video 🙂
Oh and when you do find a Xerjoff you like you get a free discovery kit with your order with 4 samples of your own choice. I love that.
I never understand why people go for náutica voyage… it’s just not very good, you can literally save a little more and get something that is actually quality. I also don’t understand why people start, “collecting”. It shouldn’t be about getting 50 bottle in one year because you’re obsessed with it, get a couple of perfume bottles that you love, and if you really really love other perfumes, then you go ahead and buy a few at a time, but it kind of defeats the purpose of wearing perfumes if you have 50 perfumes that are 100ml each…
What are your thoughts on those having 500? Having 1000? Over 2000?
Could you recommended maybe 2 or 3 fragrances for me to sample. I’m seeking a new scent for my upcoming wedding in mid October and would like a new scent for the day. Great video, many thanks
Ormonde Jayne Montabaco Intensivo, Xerjoff Uden, Amouage Reflection Man, congratulations brother!
As a beginner in fragrance collecting, I've learned that while designer and niche fragrances are amazing, the value you get from a dupe or clone cannot be beaten. Some of these dupes can be incredibly similar, to the point where it's hard to tell the difference. It seems like it doesn't make sense to spend a lot on expensive designer and niche fragrances when you can get a dupe for a fraction of the price with almost the same quality and performance.
Meh, balance is the way. I much rather have the OG than a cheap drugstore dupe no matter how good it performs. Don't forget you also want the asthetics and prestige of the fragrance you have and wear. Like, having that Dior flask standing has obviously a much greater asthetic and prestige not only to you but others that come to you and your own confidence or better said mind/Ego knowing I'm wearing that Dior/Armani/JPG/PDM... Parfum.
Of course sometimes, some Designers or Dupers offer really good quality and performing stuff that are of value and inspired by a even much more expensive fragrance but that doesn't mean you should always go for that.
Once you start smelling niche you realize the superiority of those fragrances. Don’t be fooled into thinking clones have quality on the same level, the difference between niche and designer even is apparent and clones are a step down from designer. Everyone begins with your belief but nobody stays there, it’s like buying your clothes from H&M or SHEIN
This video is spot on!
What do you make of Noted Aroma?
Hey mate, can you recommend or link some Facebook perfume selling groups? Would love to get into the niche but obviously don’t want to be splurging frivolously
I really liked silver mountain water but disliked cdn sillage so good point about clones it's not guaranteed you'll like clones
There are some exceptions like Detour Noir which is 99.9% layton. No reason to have the OG.
Also, always get samples first. Use the whole 5ml, wear it on different days and occasions and if it fits you, get the full bottle.
Im from aussie. Anyone have any recommendations for discount sites?
if you are short on budget however, focus on clone fragrances. for a developing country like mine, every dollar counts, if i am spending 10x the price, I expect at least 7x the quality. A meal is worth $2 so I no way I gonna spend hundreds of dollars on a perfume that is marginally better than a $10 Lattafa clone, $25-$30Afnan clone. I would hesitate to spray generously too if I spending that much
Yeah but you have to go through many fragrances to find what you like.
Even samples don't help much.
You have to test fragrance on skin, clothes, hot/cold weather, occasion, number of sprays etc.
And the grass always looks greener on the other side.
Hello Mr Omar .. i like your vedios ... it is really great to see one more fun epesode
Have you tried 1 million Royal? I actually like it and normally don’t like that line! 🥳
Can you, please, make a review for Kenzo Homme 2022 - EDP?
I'm a totally newbie in this fragrance universe. So is it better for me to have, let's say, a Davidoff Coolwater that is considered safe & (too) common fragrance for daily use, instead of 2 clones of higher tier fragrance (Lattafa Asad + Khamrah) for daily and night use for the same budget? Any suggestions welcome
From one newbie to another, buy samples, sample sets, or decants. I wouldn’t rush out to buy anything expensive. Samples are the best because they let you try before you buy.
If you like fragrance, but want to build a small collection, buy small bottles. Some companies,as well as decant shops, sell smaller bottles.
Also, you should buy what you like and what smells good on you. Don’t worry about the price tag. Some $35 fragrances smell great and last all day. Some $400 fragrances smell great, but last two hours.
From my own personal experience, most people I encounter use one fragrance, if they use any at all.
Stick to what you like.
I bought my stepdad Bentley Intense for Men for Father’s Day. He really enjoys it. It’s about $40US.
What’s the best sample site for delivery to UK / best UK-based site? Thanks
I disagree about going niche. I am consuming niche fragrances for a long time and returning back to the designers. Niche is not what I expected and they are not worthy that much.
what are your biggest niche disappointments?
@@MrTheK1LL3R They use really high quality raw materials but their compositions are not enough to buy that much money. ı've found out that I'm a barber shop scent lover. Nothing much.
@MrTheK1LL3R a lot of perfumes from mancera, xerjoff, parfums de marley have let me down. I got burnt with layton, 40 knots, cedrat boisee intense, I kinda like them but they aren't what I love.
@@MrTheK1LL3Rprice and versatility
@@teristonany that you don’t regret?
I am quitting , just sticking to Blau de Chanel 😊
Don’t forget Oud Wood…
Wise
Stay comrade 😂
I live in Florida (always hot and humid) so here is my collection. I'm open to suggestions!
BDC EDP
Allure Homme Sport
Percival
Silver Mountain Water
Profondo
MFK Aqua Universalis Cologne Forte and Dior Homme Sport 2022. Cheers from the super hot and super humid Indonesia
Its the fragrances you don't use that cost the money. On a daily basis what you are actually wearing its not a crazy amount of money. I would guess most people dont actually wear more than a few dollars worth of fragrance per day. There are fragrances I've smelled and loved but didnt buy because i don't have a use case for them or they don't fit my personality.
Excellent video.
I just got L'HOMME ideal and to be honest I don't wanna wear anything else I have anymore I'm conflicted
it‘s the best line in fragrance history in my opinion and i‘m mainly into niche.
Which one is your favorite?
one way to stop buying is getting off youtube and not watching any fragrance reviews, thats the only way, coz iv you watch you will end up buying .
Thank you!
Where can i buy samples cheaply?
Could you please give me an example of a good Facebook group that I can join?
Thanks
Great video all good except the move from the high-end designer to the niche I'm not saying the niche isn't worth it I'm saying the best value for quality I think is high end designer
Hi,I enjoy watching your channel. I can suggest selling the reviewed perfumes to people who sell unboxed perfumes. So you recycle your money. Am interested in case someone wants to go this route. ❤
Spot on.
Spot on advice.
I've made a promise to myself to not buy cheapies and clones anymore. Only good designers or niche. I have to many bottles of perfume now so now i only buy what i really. I stick to decants and samples of niche fragrances now.
thoughts on stronger with you and which version is the best for 17yo?
Used to spend crazy on perfumes but lately my interest on getting new fragrance has dwindled... For the last 2 months, just bought on very crazy discounted price or some local houses...
I reckon I have spent more than $2000 on perfume and to make it even more ridiculous, all happened in less than a year... Glad I have lost interest in getting more bottles..
Thoughts on h24?
4:46 That is Y ;-)
Opinion on Ganymede edp? Is it winter scent? And is it worth it
All year Scent imo. It is worth trying. It is not to everyone’s style
@@SchoolOfScentthank you, best fragrance content for me is on your chanel. 🤚🏻👍🏻
I left an almost full bottle of Versace blue jeans on my doorstep. Some lucky fcuker in downtown Tokyo smells like 1996.
I bought 10 bottles last month 😅
My fragrance journey started with niche 😅
Same here
Kindly review nasomaato perfumes
Oh man, i'm so glad that i stumbled by your channel. Not that the others are bad, but after watching couple of your videos i instantly felt that you are the real deal not a "hype manager". I have a little story of my own about buying cheapies. I wached many reviews of Nautica Voyage - everyone on youtube said - "Oh it is so good, so fresh, so worth the money". So i bought is blind. Yes, it is good smelling, yes its cheap, but it is so simple in my taste that its like you smell like 13 yo. And i never blind buy again. And i wish someone told me that before. As of the video it has very useful tips for me as a beginner in a fragrance world, thanks a lot and keep up. Sorry for my english, its not native. Shoutout from Ukraine :)
Thank you Omar. I don't tune in enough to subscribe to anyone.
You scored a brace with this review. So very solid. I bought cheap frags. I have clones. And then one day poof...my nose evolved. Most of what I have is going to be given away or binned. I used to enjoy a bunch of Lattafa and now just eewww. Other staples of the "rack store" phenomena over here in America.
Thankfully I do have many wet shaving artisans and let me tell you folks the good ones? Are definitely niche quality
And it's hard to base any purchase on a review because Fragrence is a Journey that a person travels alone.
All advice I wish I heard two months ago before I had 11 clones I don’t use 😭🤣
Nothing wrong with liking a flanker if you like it 😑 I didn’t like Sauvage EDT but loved Sauvage Parfum. Thank you flankers for catering to different peoples tastes
Samples. This is the way.
Another ground breaking video !! I wish you could go on and on and give more tips. I am the person who needs to follow all the tips you mentioned. It’s better later than never brother 🙏🙏 In addition going for the niche I would like to add H Candy Elixir. What’s your thoughts on it.
Research the notes in a fragrance and who created the fragrance. Avoid multiple frags that smell identical. If I had known that Alberto Morillas had created Versace Pour Homme and D&G Light Blue Eau Intense I would have only bought one and not the other. These two frags smell exactly the same.