Still More Unpopular Opinions: Why Fragrance Collecting Isn’t a Sport

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Your nose is not a scoreboard. Smell what you love, not what impresses Instagram.

It’s Not a Competition.

Scrolling through Instagram accounts of fragrance collectors, I sometimes feel like I’ve stumbled into the Olympics of Perfume Ownership. “I have this rare bottle!” “I have that one too!” Cool story, bro, but… why are we racing to see who can hoard the most scents? Perfume should delight the senses, not fuel a flexing contest.

“Smellmaxxing” is for children, and kind of rude. Seriously, why would a grown adult want to announce their presence like a foghorn of fragrance? I don’t want to smell you before I see you. I don’t want your perfume following me around like a persistent shadow. Smelling more (not better) than the next person shouldn’t be a sport

Top 5 lists are nonsense. When a blogger declares “The 5 Best Fragrances for Women/Men/Everyone,” just remember: what’s best for them isn’t necessarily best for you. Our noses are wildly subjective. Some people are anosmic to specific notes; others may find a beloved note unbearable. Personal taste trumps algorithmic approval every time.

Example: “After hearing about this perfume for years, I finally got a sample. Everyone said it was amazing, captivating, unique. What did I get? Sweet alcohol. I almost blind-bought it, and I’m so glad I didn’t.”

Perfume should be fun, personal, and guilt-free. It's not a competition, a weapon, or a checklist. Enjoy what you love, and leave the scoreboard at the door. Having 200 bottles doesn’t make your collection twice as good as someone’s 100. It just makes your storage situation worse. (Ask me how I know.)

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Posted by theminx on Minxstinks
Note: this post is my opinion. I am not affiliated with the companies mentioned in this post or any other companies.