Trying out new scent...

I'm a big fans for ambergris.. And here i tasted ADP creation..
A big chunk of NATURAL ambergris mixed with musk...while strong hold of the scent backboned backed by aromatic salty sea notes.. Absolutely amazing scent...
Opening scent a bit resemble to Dior Sauvage which get tonned down a lot.. While the scent settling down in a warm ambergris which brings out a flora notes in it... Guess is the sweet ambergris making the scent develop into giving a flora touch.

SOTD : ACQUA DI PARMA COLONIA AMBRA

just wondering, but how come duty free nowadays isnt cheap? or colognes no such thing as duty free?
i just returned from manhattan, in stores and even factory outlet basically same price / not a significant difference compared to duty free.
heck amazon even some cheaper than duty free...

I guess even though they are duty-free, merchants can still mark up their prices too. Not sure about NYC but perfumes found at London duty free that I've been to is much cheaper than Dubai. For further info check this out :-
- http://www.skyscanner.net/news/how-cheap-are-duty-free-shops

I'm wearing Ambra by Santa Maria Novella today. I discovered my love for birch tar by accident because of amber in this.

Duty-Free means : Langkawi are consider cheap.
Those selling at Airport are consider duty-free as well,But their price doesn't get any cheaper nowadays compared to Langkawi. Thanks to our PM for GST implement.
But still,Certain brand that worth getting at Airport duty-free such as those controlled brand and perfume powerhouse ; Chanel,Dior or Probably Hermes.
Which their RRP at boutique are way murdering consumer..

Ebay,Amazon are another place to source for fragrance,Yet there's a risk for being scam.Just purchase from the person you know or reputed seller. Another thing for sure ordering from overseas when the parcel arrive Malaysia. Sure kena 'Kastam' for GST.
Once they implant the GST.There's no such things as parcel coming in as a gift. Anything in they just 'Tax' 6%.
While if you over Ordering. You possess a very high risk for kena Confiscate from 'Pharmacy dept'.
Hope this helps... Now no more cheap perfume

ya i expected dubai to be cheaper, but to the best of my memory almost like same with Manhattan in stores only.

GST only applies if the total amt is rm500 or more.
but got ppl who bought more than rm500 and no GST... usually if shipped using courier like fedex.
if ems, sure poslaju, and very likely get GST... even that also see mood of customs... some ppl get lucky and no GST.

Maybe 'luck' play a part..
Even i order some small item aso kena open up and pay GST..
Check with the officer is a gift from overseas,They don't allow as well.
According to my local officer conversation. They hold any parcel when reaching malaysia port and they do some random pick.
Those from oversea (Europe,Us) merchant,add.They will hold and check the label. Usually kena one.

i think u kena dupe by customs, or maybe they get bribed by perfume distros here to tax all perfumes coming in... cos for sure less than rm500 got no gst.

Side note : There was a circular distributed ages ago regarding to perfume and cosmetics by the Customs. Can't seems to find it thou in my computer.

Since GST took over, even if the item is below 500 bucks but within the range of taxable items, GST will still be levied.

I think perfume falls into one of those items

most likely distros have a hand in that already.
even in stores, sellers are afraid of giving too much discount for fear of action from distro... really tight noose.
but gst got pdf that clearly states > rm500.
sure its gst being added on to perfumes, and not import duty?

Under the GST act, import duties / Sales tax / and etc are now effectively repelled and replaced with GST wor.

I am not sure how it works la, god knows what goes through the mind of customs nowadays. Today A, tomorrow can be B.

But yea, distros now are very aggressive in that matter. Most big brands like Chanel and etc can hardly get any amount off, unless you are a super regular kinda guy =.=

Which means it's time for more overseas perfume shopping

i recall import duty still remains...but those that have sales tax will be replaced by GST.

anyway nevermind, perfumes too expensive already.
i'll just wait for another warehouse sale whenever that is

AFAIK, GST replaces sales tax but import duty stays. Perfume is under non-dutiable item so no tax is imposed if the value is under RM2k for parcel shipped via air mail. On top that, our MOH will have an eye on it if it's declared as cosmetics or drugs. Perfume is under cosmetics. With my years of online perfume shopping experience (for personal use) I had no problem with our Kastam except for once StrawberryNet wrongly declared my perfume as over RM2k and I got a call from my local Kastam officer but it all sorted out after I texted him a screenshot of my original receipt with actual value. BTW, I bought it on end of May 2015 and received it in June.

As for MOH, I received warning notice twice from Pharmaceutical department for perfume purchases and both are from FragranceX.com (all under RM500). I ignored them because there's one clause in the brochure attached with the warning notice that says it's OK if it's for your own personal use.

I believe the inspection is random and as long as your parcel doesn't exceed RM500 in value (because dutiable item starts from RM500) else they will rip it open and check, which happened to my Musc Ravageur purchase (>RM500). My parcel was ripped open but let it through because perfume is non-dutiable and it's under RM2k.

I found the info on this blog quite accurate but that's before GST. Always check against http://www.customs.gov.my if unsure (even though it's not really informative).

This post has been edited by t0n3: Mar 16 2016, 02:58 PM

i think u should be telling / quoting others and not me, cos that's also what im saying

Sorry bro, not quoting anyone in particular. Just quoting the subject to share my experience

That's very nice. Natural ambergris, like for real? Wonder how much is the full retail bottle?

This post has been edited by Underhill: Mar 19 2016, 10:43 AM

SOTD: Oscar de la Renta Pour Lui

Gothic Leather killer....

Hi, I'm new here.

All my entire life I've been using Joop! Homme. I love it as it last long as the smell is sweet but sometimes smell kinda synthetic.

May I ask sifus out here that can recommend me a longer lasting perfume that had wooden/green smell?

Nice solid choice you have romalis51,
Why not give it a slight upgrade and try out Mont Blanc Individuel,For my nose I can smells is more refined and smoother warm cinnamon,Vanilla & Juniper combination.
Definitely one of the bottle worth scent!

It is suitable for day used? But I heard Individuel is not as long lasting as Joop! Homme isn't? Is the projection good?

Tested both and i would say Mont Blanc are better than Joop.
Probably you can give it a test at your local departmental store... Joop for me too sweet and synthetic..
Longevity and Project was good for me.. i got 8hours ++ and going. Projection at a feet distance.