What you should know when come to buying perfume:

1. Always go sampling with an empty stomach – when human is hungry (not until the starving stage la), your senses will be more sensitive, especially to the smell. Thus you will have a better judgment on which perfume is more suitable for you.

2. Normally when you go the counter, the promoter would love to spray the perfume on your palm. I won’t recommend it as you may ‘carry’ the smell to every counter when you are sampling other perfumes. Just ask the promoter (politely) to spray it on the rectangular sampling paper, sniff it and walk away. No, you are not being rude. You see, when the promoter sprayed the perfume to the paper, you will smell what we call as the ‘First Note’ of the perfume - the first impression of the perfume. This smell will not last long. You should wait for the ‘Base Note’ to develop, which may take 30 minutes to hours. Some of you may ask “hey what happen to the Middle Note?” You are right but trust me, not many can notice the difference between the first note and middle note.

3. Never ever sample more than 2 perfumes at one time. If you really need to, than ask (politely) for some coffee beans. And no, don’t walk away with the beans and grind them at home (ok I know I am trying to be funny). The coffee beans are meant for you to sniff to eliminate the smell of the perfume which may still ‘linger’ in your nose. Of course, by asking for coffee beans, it makes you look very classy, as if you are an expert (even thought this could be your first ever perfume). After sniffing, wait for a while and ask the promoter to spray another perfume on the sampling paper. Repeat the process of sniffing the coffee beans if you still want to sample more perfumes (and watch out for the face expression of the promoter: you want to buy or you want to ‘kau kau chan’?)

4. So if you already make up your mind which one to go for, ask the promoter to spray it on your palm and walk away. Allow the perfume to mix with your body to generate the real smell. This process may take up to 2 hours. So feel free to have your lunch (at last!), do your shopping and make your own final judgment if this perfume will reflect your personality.

5. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself being served by a ‘feminine’ boy (or guy?). After all, you will see them at most of the perfume counters. Believe me, they are more willing to explain to you the difference among a sea of perfumes and allow you to try on them (I mean the perfumes!). They have all the patience (except for one or two that I came across) and normally will not force you to purchase. Unlike some ladies at the perfume counters, their main concern is “I want to sell you this perfume although I am not sure if it suits you. So don’t waste my time as I have more important things to do (translation: to ‘pat’ with other promoters) and sorry ya even though you buy 10 bottles from me I won’t give you my mobile number”. Sign….some ladies are so ‘perasan’ they think that every guy would like to bed them.…

6. Perfume should reflect your personality (when it mixes with your body chemical) so don’t apply too much perfume on your body. Sometime we don’t realize this as our sense (nose) is too used to the smell and we can’t tell if we are over applying it. Trust me, you don’t want people to ‘notice’ you 100 feet away. To me, 2 dabs are more than enough and always dab the perfume on the pulse spot as the heat generated from your pulse with emit the smell and the perfume will last longer on your body. You may practise this: one on your palm and the other one on your neck or chest.

7. If possible, get 2 or 3 different perfumes and rotate using them. Always store your perfume away from direct sunlight. If possible, do what I do: I keep them in my refrigerator It can last for more than 3 years la wei!!

This post has been edited by attacusatlas: Dec 31 2008, 12:19 AM

thanks jind86 . i am just sharing my experience here. hoping that you all find it helpful.

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Added on December 31, 2008, 11:19 amthank you so much .

when you go shopping for perfume, don't forget to ask for coffee beans

This post has been edited by attacusatlas: Dec 31 2008, 11:19 AM

well, so far it never happen to me. I put them at the bottom shelve. btw, i don't cook so my fridge is relatively empty most of time with the exception of some liquor in it.

hi jonny4, would you mind to furnish me your humble opinion on these perfumes? so sorry for the long list. thanks in advance.

Acca Kappa White Moss
Burberry Touch
Calvin Klein Eternity Summer (2005 Version)
Calvin Klein IN2U
Carolina Herrera 212
Cartier Declaration Essence
Comme Des Garcons 2 Man
Dunhill Dunhill
Dunhill Pure
Hugo Boss Selection
Issey Miyake L’eau D’Issey Pour Homme
Jean Paul Gaultier Fleur Du Male
Mont Blanc Presence (Half-Moon/Old Bottle)
Mont Blanc Starwalker
Polo Ralph Lauren Blue
Rochas Eau De Rochas
Zino Davidoff Goodlife (Green Bottle)



This post has been edited by attacusatlas: Nov 16 2009, 11:41 PM

Hi sir, thanks for your reply.

Yes i find that White Moss is classy but it doesn't last. I got it during a sale at Acca Kappa, One Utama.

As for CDG and Rochas, I got them whilst I was in Tokyo and Paris respectively. Though I have owned Rochas for years, I am still trying to get used to it.

Btw, I was being informed that there is a shop located in one of the buildings in KL carries a range of CDG perfumes but the price is a minus.

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Added on November 17, 2009, 9:27 amThank you sir for your effort. It is very much appreciated.

I agree with you that the JPG is very much feminine amongst. I actually got it as a gift. I will only use it sparingly, but only when I was in my 3-piece suit.

Zino Davidoff Goodlife is my very first perfume, got it like ages ago. One of my fav but too bad has been discontinued. I only left with about 10%.

CK Eternity Summer 2005 is a gift as well. I have compared it with others CK Summer and you are right, this is the best among the all. Still left with about 75%.

Mont Blanc Starwalker is the only perfume that I am trying to finish up. Still left with about 5%. It took me more than 2 years to do so for a 75ml bottle. You might think that I like it so much but as a matter of fact, I dislike it. I just want to finish it and throw away the bottle.

This post has been edited by attacusatlas: Nov 17 2009, 10:52 AM

sir, thanks for the info. i didn't know that these are still in production. that, indeed, is a good news.

They used to be available at City Square Centre, KL (next to Crown Princess Hotel) along Jln Tun Razak. However the mall has been bought over by MGPA and currently is under heavy renovation. It will be renamed to Intermark Mall after the up lifting. Hopefully CDG fragrance will be able to make a come back to the new mall.

jonny4, just to share with you: my another Comme des Garcons EDT - Comme des Garcons (1994) is on the way from US.

This post has been edited by attacusatlas: Dec 10 2009, 10:22 AM

will try to do that bro but as you know it is always hard to review a CDG fragrance - it is way too 'alternative' and 'unconventional'. they love to use unusual elements to recreate certain scents. my CDG 2 Man smells like ink on a piece of calf leather. go figure.

you can find it at One Utama, New Wing. there is a Chanel fragrance outlet at level 1, corner lot. if you are going towards Parkson or G2000, you will definitely see it.

just a quick one: which one would you choose? Davidoff Adventure or Burberry Beat?

i know both suck but like you, i have someone putting a double-barrel on my head, threatening to blow out every single piece of my brain if I don't choose between these two.

anyway, thanks for your input, though i know it is not easy.

oh, they are free. so i might use it as home fragrance.

don't go away. i have another task for you. choose either one:

maison martin margiela untitled, or monocle scent one: hinoki

don't worry, i was just pulling your legs.

was thinking of getting either one but have no clue on their characteristic. thus, was trying my luck here if anyone would advise me which one to go for.

This post has been edited by attacusatlas: Apr 27 2010, 04:10 PM

that's the dilemma when money is not enough. both cost almost the same in france but too bad i can only choose one.

sincerely, if you were in my shoes, which one would you go for?

gentlemen, what men's fragrance would you purchase if you are in paris, france? i would prefer something unique and out of the norm?

@ruffin
@mrbs84

thanks for the suggestions. i quite like the packaging of le labo. it looks very much 'clinical'. there is a touch of maison martin margiela to it.

i am thinking of:
maison martin margeila 'untitled'
monocle 'scent one: hinoki'
carthusia 'numero uno'
nasomatto 'silver musk'
diptyque 'l'eau de tarocco'
maison francis kurkdjian 'a piece of me (apom) pour homme'

what are your takes on these?

mrbs84, where did you get the le labo?

thanks for the info, mate!

just wondering: is anyone into scented candle?