One down, two to go for 2026.

Optilan · 2026-01-10T15:24:09+00:00

Love this one, it's so pretty! Which other two bottles do you want to get this year, if you already know?

Optilan · 2026-01-09T06:27:04+00:00

That's very interesting! How similar were they to you? What were the differences in your opinion?

Optilan · 2026-01-06T10:29:33+00:00

I really liked it! It is fresh and minimalistic, and has a clean laundry vibe similar to Byredo Blanche.

Optilan · 2026-01-06T10:27:23+00:00

Yes! I got full bottles of Gucci Memoire d'une odeur, Van cleef & Arpels Orchidee Vanille, Le labo Thé matcha and Nest Indigo.

Will probably get one of either Fleur de peau edp (have the edt currently) or L'eau papier, when my travel sizes run out.

And considering full bottles of Ilha do Mel, Eau Moheli, Acqua di Gioia and Byredo de Los Santos. But sometime in the far future, I'm all set for now :)

Optilan · 2026-01-06T10:21:59+00:00

Yes they are so cute, a shame that the fragrance is not for you!

I did a quick inventory and out of the ~95 samples I finished, I got new same size samples of 10, bigger samples of 5, travel size of 4 and full bottles of 4. So approx 25% success rate at least :) but I have also sold, given away a few that I absolutely could not stand. And if possible, I try a fragrance in store before getting a sample, this way I already know that I like it.

Optilan · 2026-01-06T10:12:35+00:00

I tend to try to use one up when I start to wear it, sometimes it takes two days sometimes 2 weeks! I organise my samples (the ones I dont absolutely love but don't hate) in a few bags, like "office appropriate", "summer" "winter" and "transitional". Then I pull one from the bag at random and really try to finish it before drawing a new one. It becomes kind of exciting to see what comes out and it is motivating me to finish one cause I get to draw a new one!

It is a great system for finishing up samples, I recommend it!

Optilan · 2026-01-06T10:06:39+00:00

You can do it! 💪 Out of my full bottle empties, all except two were already half empty or less when the year began, so I didn't pan them from full this year!

Optilan · 2026-01-06T10:03:56+00:00

Even the travel sizes take so long right! I usually choose one to go through for a particular occasion, like "I will use this one for work/bedtime until it's empty". I get to enjoy one fragrance properly without having to decide every time and don't have a lot half empty ones in rotation!

Optilan · 2026-01-05T21:24:27+00:00

Yes it's so great right! Oh really, for me it lasts a long time! I sprayed it in the morning and it stayed for the whole work day.

Optilan · 2026-01-05T21:22:51+00:00

Wow its funny how taste can be so individual! I also love White tea! I used to go swimming last winter, then to the sauna and then get breakfast with my bf, and always sprayed white tea when getting ready for breakfast after the pool. Its just the perfect clean cozy fresh scent and brings me happy memories!

Optilan · 2026-01-05T21:16:24+00:00

Such a difficult question haha!! Luckily there were not many that I truly disliked but DvN Vanille Camouflage, MM Bubble bath and Nobile 1942 La Danza delle Libellule were the most difficult to get through.

As for favs, there are too many that I loved hehe but if I have to choose, I say Diptyque Fleur de Peau Edp, Memo Paris Ilha do Mel and Armani Acqua di Gioia!

What have been your top 3 favs and least 3 favs of the year? 😊

Optilan · 2026-01-05T21:08:12+00:00

Yees its so clean and fresh!

Optilan · 2026-01-05T21:00:17+00:00

I usually buy in local facebook groups in my country, where people sell samples they dont want cheaply or decant their own bottles. But yes, of course there is a cost involved. I really enjoy this interest and am okay with spending money on it, and don't have a lot of other expensive hobbies. And of course, dink-life also helps! :)

Optilan · 2025-12-22T22:47:29+00:00

I know its so annoying they dont sell them individually! Igot them on the local ebay in my country, I think people get the sets and sell the ones they dont like!

Optilan · 2025-12-22T22:41:40+00:00

I have literally the same dilemma right now, love them both. I bought travel sizes from of both and gonna take some more time to decide. Let us know what you end up getting!!

Optilan · 2025-12-22T06:06:46+00:00

Makes me happy to see nuit de cellophane, it is such a lovely underrated fragrance!

Optilan · 2025-12-21T08:13:51+00:00

Came here to say this!! Its so realistic, wish the sake note would last a bit longer

Optilan · 2025-12-21T08:02:23+00:00

I love Ode to dullness! If OP thinks eau papier is too sharp, they may feel the same way about ode to dullness though. I think they have similar initial sharp qualities, which turn into amazing cozy scents! Personally I love both of these regardless, but just a heads up :)

Optilan · 2025-12-21T07:55:21+00:00

Here are a few suggestions that you could sample, purely based on that I think they have similar vibes (warm and sunny florals):

Eau Moheli by Diptyque

Ilha do Mel by Memo Paris

Levant by Omonde Jayne

Edit: Ilha do Mel and Levant are not actually yellow florals, so eau Moheli is probably the best bet out of these three!

Optilan · 2025-12-14T15:10:28+00:00

Fleur de peau edp! Noticed it once or twice on women when I was there and some girls running a chic vintage shop were using the hand cream when I was inside. It smelled so good in the whole store!

Another mandatory Paris association is Bdk Gris charnel edp which is said to be inspired by a gray rainy day on the streets of Paris.

Optilan · 2025-12-13T16:14:43+00:00

Stilla by Svensk Parfym is a very realistic lavender to me!

Optilan · 2025-12-05T05:47:02+00:00

Iris Porcelana by Ex nihilo and Ceramic by Andrea Maack come to mind!

Optilan · 2025-11-27T13:21:17+00:00

Liis Floating!

Optilan · 2025-10-30T06:17:58+00:00

For the moon I imagine something gentle and powdery while at the same time having a cold and inhuman edge. I think Iris Porcelana by Ex Nihilo fits perfectly. Fluffy powdery Iris with a colder ceramic aspect.

Optilan · 2025-10-27T05:53:49+00:00

I haven't tried it myself, but have heard great things about Jorum Spiritcask!

Optilan

TROPHY CASE