...Parfummaniac:@Fluxit, thanks . Alas , I tried it several times, but you need to log in to react/reply on the German version. Yes, you can read all, but not able to like etc.That's a shame, perhaps it's got something to do with cookies/browser setting. Once in a while, I am 'thrown out' from either page and have to log in, but otherwise, the switching with full functionality is done automatically (perhaps also because my login data are saved).I think Fluxit nailed it, there needs to be a 'core group' like on the German site (I must admit that I do not contribute there much either because I'm not the group-involved type, I would get tired).I, too, do appreciate people posting pictures and text, comments, blogs and a single line in the 'what's happening now?' and daily fragrances alike. I don't really think anyone here would do anything for Points' sake, I'm sure many still don't even know (like I always forget) that even forum posts are counted. For that purpose, some online games might give more satisfaction - I used to like those flower-growing simulation games :lol: For all the lively activity that may fluctuate, I also support that Parfumo continues the stress/focus on its strengths distinguishing it so much from other platforms (not to mention the cluttered, intransparent, heavy mess of FB which doesn't provide reliability for many reasons).

...After skimming (I hope it's not a derogatory word) the past pages of this thread, it was interesting to compare the development of the reviews here (and else) back then and now, and my own attitude.It is difficult for me to find the balance between an absolute personal or a rather objective text (one careless step, and I'd be writing a monologue/diary entry, swayed by the oh so cosy stream of consciousness), where to place myself - as a 'commentator' telling from the side, pointing towards the fragrance on the table, keeping the view on the reader and the aspects that might be helpful, or telling of my experience, 1:1 sitting faced towards the fragrance?I consider imageries extremely useful for grasping something that goes beyond rational analysis, same as for musical interpretation (and I'm sure, for acting); but then again, with all our different backgrounds, my association might not be the same as someone else's and rather close the door. I also have to remember to detach myself from any negative emotion that occurred from the circumstances and not mix it with the perfume itself (if this happens, I edit the text, after 'cooling down'). It's very often the case with bad blind purchases based on (fabricated, hence untruthful) reviews, or the fact that people, for many reasons, prefer to only say nice things or nothing at all, and consequently, distorting the whole picture (this is one point which made me write a review in the first place).When it comes to discussing a matter (and I find perfume reviews another form of dealing with a subject), I personally do not find the much-quoted advice "don't say anything if it's not pleasant" really useful, even though I understand how it is/was meant. From societies that do cultivate this motto more than it would be appropriate, I have seen how this can also work in the other, suppressive way. The art of considerate, objective and civilised discussion without veering into an argument is not easy and something that needs to be trained certainly, best from early on, but if not, it can still be learnt, I hope (at least for myself).Aside from all that, I do enjoy reading the reviews, especially if I can sense that they are honestly felt and have not lost the focus - passion for fragrances, which we all share.

..."Still" because there's still some leftover from yesterday's migraine, and I need something still, calming, inobtrusive.

...As for the projection and longevity, It may depend on the scent type. For instance, I find that Tangerine Vert, in this regard, compared with Noix de Tubéreuse, is like Eau de Cologne to Extrait. The latter definitely needs a point/very light-handed application, 1 spray max, best under clothes, or otherwise, it will develop monstrous with good tenacity.

...For admiring 'observation', definitely, the classic florals, although some are either 'too much' (powdery, heavy) or just do not feel like myself - therefore, 'detached, aesthetic admiration'.From the few I came to know and own, I do love and wear some I do not feel mismatched with, the easier and more delicate ones like Mme Rochas or Arpège. The new formulation of L'Aimant, on the other hand, felt too rosy-vanillic sweet, somewhat too 'lovely & youthful' for me, in regards to the inner attitude.I simply can't find any attraction to the second category of edibles and the ones which all seem to have some certain common base - I initially thought perhaps it was some kind of characteristic of what many people called 'drugstore fragrances'. But after smelling through many popular 'mainstream' department fragrances of the last years, I had come to the conclusion it didn't matter the price nor the brand value. They all share something sticky and a little musty, like matte sugar water mixed with honey. Extremely artificial and obtrusive at the same time. Ethyl maltol? Not sure... Maybe a certain type of musk also involved, sugary musk seems to be a big factor in all the modern sweet fragrances (with alibi cameo notes of some flowers and tea or coffee), spoiling them all for me. I did try one dark chocolate-smelling fragrance, even over a longer period, and it was enough for me to see once and for all that I feel most uncomfortable smelling like a walking cotton candy machine or be associated with it. For me, sweetened amber seems enough for colder seasons if I want something sweet and cosy.One thing I can say for sure is that, if a company wants to play it safe, it only needs to throw in some vanilla. One can observe - not only here but in general - that fragrances with vanilla can count on higher acceptance/tolerance than those which try without. I, for my part, am not a big fan of dominant vanilla, perhaps that is why it just amuses me to see the above proven every time.

...Welcome home then, Cincy, I'm sure your plants are also glad you're back :) I hope you have had a pleasant trip with good weather.It's been snow-raining here since morning. While I love dry, sunny, freezing winter, wet'n cold is an unlovable combination.Orchids must be very picky if they want to stay and flourish or not, but planting, in general, is difficult for me. Last time was the attempt to save a hyacinth for the next year, I had to give up.I have been... brewing fresh coffee to tackle the afternoon.

...The African violet on the pictures looks perfect, Cincy. Thanks for sharing!You must be, as well as Cryptic, green-thumbed. I'm hopeless with plants, even cactuses don't survive in my hands.I have been... trying to finish typing a (nonpersonal) letter and will have to do it now.

...Exciter, yes, that's the one I meant, thanks! It's Vogue even.I'm afraid it's not only about Parfumo and its members he seems to feel in a certain way, as could be seen on many other inofficial occasions regarding other topics."The competitive do not know the peace of mind" -- by me.Mia, as you know, some people are extrapunitive.

...Regarding 'wisdom' gained from experience, Mia, I thought of the fact that it depends on the very person what they will learn (if ever) from an incident, since they choose what to conclude for themselves, based on their character. I have heard the expression 'true wisdom', but not so much about 'false wisdom'. I wondered if 'wisdom' is considered a double-edged matter that can turn either way, like 'power' being abused. Perhaps it is called 'knowledge' in this case.About Plato, I think we can see he didn't like women; otherwise, those who love idle chit-chat would be condemned if it were for him :lol: :wink:"The sound of the Gion Shōja bells echoes the impermanence of all things; the color of the sāla flowers reveals the truth that the prosperous must decline. The proud do not endure, they are like a dream on a spring night; the mighty fall at last, they are as dust before the wind."-- The Tale of the Heike (13th century), trans. by H.C. McCullough

...Thanks, Mia :)I often notice outside that I had forgotten to put on any perfume, but since I feel more comfortable with smelling with less than too much, I suppose it's fine by me. I can understand that, though.Just came up with another quote (self-made; please imagine Bilbo's voice):"It is important to listen to your own nose, Frodo - otherwise, it might leave you and even steal your identity." -- credit to Gogol

...@Mia, regarding the alleged O.Wilde quote, I had come to doubt it too. I wonder what the original source is.@Cryptic, I never had heard about hovenia and had to look up. I think I don't need that one, there are mad men enough! I rather need an antidote.By the way, Mugler's "Aura" has such a troubling, mind-fogging and numbing effect on me. Perhaps some of the mentioned substances are included. And my free quote after Othello would be:"Aura...it is the green-coloured heart-shaped monster that doth mock my poor nose and brain"Cincy's quote sounds like a timeless script for perfume ads.

...I hope you did find a source for that kiss-blowing emoticon on your own, Cryptic - not that we get sued for that one, too ;)Funny that their official English announcement for the latest J.Stuart is still using the same text they first had for the Croatian one which doesn't mention concrete notes, but now they have added and corrected their messed fragrance notes - must've found a better source which, as always in their case, isn't revealed.-- sprinkling salt --

...Ah, there are a few similar sayings in my language, Cryptic, one is:"A skilled falcon hides his talons""The weaker the dog, the more/louder it barks"And the one that is very popular and is often quoted especially regarding business (companies etc.):"The riper the rice corn gets, the deeper it bows (its head)" - a reminder that any "positions/fame/titles" et al. someone might have achieved, that it was not without the support and help of other people, and therefore, one should not forget humbleness.It also is often used in the meaning that people with great ('ripe') personality, no matter their status, will never boast, always be polite and treat people equally, regardless of the other one's social position etc.Mia, your quote about wisdom is very right, but made me realise that 'wisdom' is a value-neutral word and can go either way, depending on one's character...

...@MiaI remember another post where he, once asked by a member why our website gets treated as a spam site and any competition ideas were involved, used a traffic analysis graphic to demonstrate that (paraphrasing) "Sorry, but Parfumo.net isn't even on the same level as ours...ours is comparable to big magazines like ELLE, whereas Parfumo.net has so much access in one month as we have in one morning."As to the confusion level, I agree with you, it must be of such that he clearly doesn't walk the walk.@CincyI find it also funny that their inofficial sub-website aromo.ru is doing everything he seems vehemently rejecting to do ;)

...Fragrances that interest me are (for whatever reason!) mostly not available in stores to test, and I have to decide to take the risk or not. I had always done lots of 'blind buys' without knowing this expression, I suppose it was just another 'mail ordering' for me. In the past, I couldn't imagine much from the listed fragrance notes and completely relied on some 'intuition' (and luck) based on the ad and bottle picture. Curiously, I never had a 'failed' blind purchase back then, and this left me in a blissful state of even not knowing such things exist.After I had begun reading reviews of other people and started letting my attention lead to those I wouldn't have looked at myself (in order to 'broaden my horizon'), I collected a mass of 'missed' blind buys. Of course, I felt frustrated to discover that I seemed to be in the 3% minority to perceive a fragrance differently than the 97% who praised and wrote glowing words, more so if someone just wrote misleading, eloquent 'reviews' which, in reality, were fabricated without ever testing and received many applauding thumb-ups as to confirm their credibility (note: not on this site).Some cases were rather 'against better knowing' or the lack of the ability to imagine anything, trying to persuade myself to give it a chance, just for the sake of giving people's sentiments more credit than my own feeling, and therefore, my own fault. It's not much different than with people, I suppose. And these also belong to my worst blind purchases. Very nice finds were partly surprising, partly anticipated. Funny that "Fancy Nights" mentioned earlier belongs to one of my nicer blind buys, based on my impression of the bottle alone, and the description 'old, books', without ever knowing what patchouli smelt like or if I liked it. I just saw it was a controversial fragrance (at that point, there were more negative feedbacks) which didn't keep me from trying :)

...Thank you for the passages, Cryptic :) Both Rebecca's perfume and Dorian Gray studying perfumes completely slipped out of my mind. Although I remember strong scents of flowers are mentioned often, and him dealing with opium, of course (although, not the Opium, but I suppose he might've liked it?)Very accurate, as always, from the dandy, and regarding "and in musk that troubled the brain" yes yes yes! Now I know why I don't like it and can be proud that great O.Wilde shares my sentiment :o ;)The other quote I learnt in the German forum thread should be by Oscar Wilde as well, but I can't find the source in English: "Komplimente sind wie Parfüm. Sie dürfen duften, aber nie aufdringlich werden." -> "Compliments are like perfumes. They should be fragrant, but never become obtrusive.""Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it." ― Mark Twain

...Aah. You caught me there, Cryptic :) :lol: I think some types just don't have affinities (mutually).I am sure that, if I were an animal, I would be a slow-moving vegetarian, like a cow or an elephant (the African variation).Accordingly, I don't get on with animals that hunt others ;)A rather famous one from the (initially) romantic-idealistic protagonist:“If only there could be an invention that bottled up a memory, like scent. And it never faded, and it never got stale. And then, when one wanted it, the bottle could be uncorked, and it would be like living the moment all over again.” ― Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca

...For that quote, I also thought about those who (without really being emotionally invested) just feel too comfortable to make efforts themselves to be happy or make someone else happy and demand being satisfied.I am sorry dear Cincy, about your hurtful experience. And this would have nothing to do with getting 'comfortable' as in my alternate interpretation of the above quote. I am sure it always is devastating if one had really emotionally become involved and invested and attached, the more for a very feeling person.Some people say, "experience makes you stronger" or something like, but I believe there are experiences one doesn't need.

..."Madame Rochas (1989)"Aldehydes and summer meadows

...Ah, how true indeed. Also, what we never received when we wished for it.It can be such a liberating feeling to detach oneself from things, but as you said, Cincy, not always easy to do...And in many cases, I think people cling and will not let go of things to fill in their lives they couldn't otherwise 'plenish' by themselves, and that leads to your other good quote with tying one's happiness to someone else's kite.