Backup bottles. Everyone who’s into perfumes questioned this at one point or another. The 2 scenarios we have all gone through are:
- You bought a fragrance and you simply love it. You love it so much that you’re already beginning to stress about the possible future of it being discontinued or reformulated (without even a shred of evidence). You have the urge to buy a few extra bottles “just in case”.
- You were lucky enough to find out that one of your most favorite perfumes is being discontinued. The eBay dealers still didn’t skyrocket the price yet and the perfume is still widely available. You experience a sudden urge to buy like 10 bottles.
Honestly, there is no right or wrong here. There’s no guide or conclusion. There are just things to consider before making up your mind.
By the way, your mind will change frequently, depending on the perfume in question and your obsession with it. It won’t always make sense – and for me at least, that’s perfectly fine.
The One
Let’s start with this since this section got its own rules (for me at least).
If it’s…
- Your absolute favorite one, and…
- You wear it so often your spouse thinks you’re actually drinking it, and…
- You have a solid reason to believe something bad is going to happen (discontinued… reformulated…etc.)
Then stop reading and go buy a backup bottle right now. The last thing you want to do is to procrastinate only to find out it’s getting harder and more expensive with every day passing.
The world is full of people who regret not buying a backup of their favorite perfume that got discontinued or reformulated. Don’t be one of them.
For my absolute top 2 frags, I always love to relax knowing I have an extra 200/300 mL of juice.
Things to consider before stocking bottles
First, don’t freak out
Remember – 1000’s of new perfumes hit the market every year and 1000’s are being discontinued as well. Just because your perfume gets discontinued soon it doesn’t mean it’ll be unavailable.
Depending on the perfume, its brand and its popularity, it’s very much probable that there is still a lot of inventory left around (could even last a few years).
And in the worst case? You’ll pay a premium in the future.
Are you really using it?
We all have this amazing perfume we wear maybe once or twice a month. A half-full 100ml bottle will last you for roughly another 4 years. Do you really need another one or are you just in FOMO-state?
For me, (excluding my top-2 treasured scents) every backup purchase I made is still sealed and will probably remain sealed for the foreseeable future. I never get to actually finish my original bottles.
Taste changes
Going back to your sudden urge of “10-bottle purchase right now”. Are you really going to be wearing this perfume for the next 15 years?
Try to think about a scent from the 70s, 80s, or even the 90s that is not out of fashion today. Yes, there are many examples, but what about the 99.9% that didn’t make it? Are you sure the one you have in mind won’t be one of them?
There’s always something new, style changes, people change, your favorite scent will probably change in time, too. Scents you love so much right now may lose appeal over time as you discover new ones.
Flipping is a always possibility
The good news is that If you end up buying a few backups and you never really used them, or simply your taste changed, selling them is an option. There’s a possibility that the perfume in question will turn out to be a gem in a few years, so you can even make a profit on it.
Re-selling a perfume is not a sure thing as you may not find a buyer (or you’ll have it listed forever before you do), but if it’s a loveable one chances are pretty good. Just make sure you keep it sealed in the original box and store it properly (further on this below).
Money better spent elsewhere
Allow yourself to open up to new scents. Isn’t it more exciting to try on new scents rather than sticking to ones you already have? I guess the answer depends on the situation, it could be your all-time favorite or a sentimental scent you just can’t afford to lose. But more often than not, you’ll have your money better spent on exploring the new than holding on to the old.
Discounted luxury
Sometimes you’ll find a bargain for a very expensive perfume you like. For me, it only makes sense to buy another one just in case. As I said, chances are I won’t finish the first bottle I have, but getting a good deal for an expensive and popular perfume is too tempting. It’s very likely that in the worst case I’ll just sell it whenever.
Store it properly
Even if you opted to skip this backup-rush, this one goes for every sealed perfume you’re not using.
Make sure you keep it sealed, in a cool place, in the dark. That will ensure the perfume will last for a very long time and won’t turn. The worst thing is to discover that your backup bottle gone off due to poor storage and isn’t smelling like you thought it would.
My Philosophy*
Here is my philosophy *in theory. I don’t really follow it, although I sometimes wish I did. If you’re a normal and rational person, you might find it easier than me to follow.
How frequently am I wearing it?
This is the most important one. I learned the hard way that if I buy backup bottles of perfumes I don’t wear a lot, they will stay in the dark for years.
If it’s not something I wear frequently, I’m not buying a backup, without even asking the other questions below.
How much do I love the scent?
If it’s something I use frequently, and I really really like the scent, I buy a backup only if I found a really good bargain on it. If there’s no bargain, I ask the following question:
What’s the (estimated) scarcity?
Is it discontinued/going to be? Are there any rumors? Am I freaked out about it being reformulated? If the answer (even an estimation) is yes – I’ll buy a spare bottle.
Which type are you?
Are you the one that stresses about finishing a perfume before you are even halfway through? The one who likes to stock up on a few bottles just so you can spray lavishly without ever worrying about running out? Or the one that almost never even finishes a bottle, always chasing new scents?
Like I said at the beginning, there’s not one answer here. As for me, I’m all of these types – depending on which day you’re asking.