It takes some skillfull negotiation tactics with darling husband, but eventually he sees that one large bottle versus 30 or 40 decants is actually a saving.

That argument is equally reversible when decants are desired, of course!

But what cracked me up was how you sneaked the 3 REALLY big $$ items in at the very end in a p.s.!

Wish I had a Whole Foods near by! Whenever I go visit family, I run over there to buy chocolate & scented things.

But oh, my very deepest sympathies…just reading about you losing your notes gave me a sick feeling. I understand completely why it might make you lose interest entirely. Glad to hear it's coming back, at least a little…

-Kristen

Expectations can play such a big role when trying scents for the first time–I didn't want you to be disappointed.

For a very fine (though pricy) modern LOTV scent, you might try Parfums DelRae's Debut.

My Monday Mail experience prompted so many great suggestions my 'to try'

list was enormous! And, the more research I did, the longer my list got.

I tried way too many vanillas though, and I almost sickened myself at one point.

I've learned that I really only like perfumes with a touch of vanilla, not vanilla with

a little touch of something else.

It's been a steep, and at times eye-watering, learning curve!

I deliberately stayed away from discontinued or hard to find scents.

I couldn't bear the thought of finding 'the one' only to have my heart broken if

I could never have it again.

My first success was Monyette Paris, so it became my first Full Bottle this year.

Others on my 'have to have' list are:

Diptyque – Philosykos (which also led me to Marc Jacobs Fig Splash)

EL – Sensuous

ELPC – Amber Ylang Ylang

SL – Un Lys

SL – Fleurs d'Oranger

L'Artisan – Safran Troublant

Others which I really liked (but a decant is enough for now):

Fragonard – Grain de Soleil

Hermes – Elixir des Merveilles

My tastes have probably changed a little since the Monday Mail. I'm being brave

and trying notes I would normally dismiss. NST has really opened up a whole

world of possibilities for me, for which I'm eternally grateful.

Like Rhonda, I don't post comments very often, but I read the blog every day

and can't wait to see what's new.

So, I'd like to say a big thank-you to everyone who offered suggestions and

advice, and made me feel very welcome on the blog – it was a brilliant experience!

xxx

P.S. I've just fallen ever so slightly in love with Vanille Galante

(and TF Champaca Absolute and FM Dan tes Bras).

So far, there are three fragrances that I absolutely love that I may never have found if it hadn’t been for the Monday Mail suggestions:

1. L’Artisan Ambre Extreme, which I think may have simply been one of the samples I ordered along with the L’Artisan suggestions. This was the fragrance I ordered a full bottle of, simply because it turns into warm, fuzzy, comforting, natural goodness on my skin.

2. Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab White Rabbit

3. Comptoir Sud Pacifique Vanille Amande—which, like the L’Artisan—came from a suggestion of the Comptoir Sud Pacifique line.

Also, at the time, I tossed my L’Artisan Pour une Ete sample in a drawer because it seemed too light and floral, but I am very much liking it now for the springtime.

Other fragrances I tried and quite liked, but perhaps not enough to place on my To Buy list:

1. Bulgari Black

2. Bulgari Omnia

3. L’Artisan L’Eau d’ Ambre

4. Tom Ford White Patchouli, which was a favorite for about a week, and then seemed too linear.

5. Versace Crystal Noir

And of course there was plenty more I gained than just a few pretty-smelling samples. Because the Pacifica line was suggested, I learned that Whole Foods has an entire aisle devoted to perfume oils that I had probably walked past dozens of times without noticing. I also have a better jist of the perfume families I gravitate toward, since some of the suggestions consistently seemed too spicy and oriental. I do appreciate all the suggestions and the help that was offered. I am slowly but surely working through each one, but it seems the second I go to the company’s Web site, I see about 5 other perfumes they produce that I need to sample! I am, however, extremely happy with my Ambre Extreme, and even if it had been the only fragrance I found to like, it would have been more than worthwhile.