Fragrance Addiction: 5 Step-By-Step Solution on How To Deal With Perfume Buying Addiction

As someone who has been a fragrance collector for many years now, I can positively say that fragrance addiction is a real thing that shouldn’t be ignored.

Recognizing this potential issue, and dealing with perfume buying addiction taboo on time can save you a lot of money and make the perfume hobby a much more enjoyable experience.

According to Very Well Mind article, “shopping addiction is a behavioral addiction that involves compulsive buying as a way to feel good and avoid negative feelings, such as anxiety and depression.

Like other behavioral addictions, shopping addiction can take over as a preoccupation that leads to problems in other areas of your life. Also, almost everyone shops to some degree, but only about 6% of the U.S. population is thought to have a shopping addiction.”

That’s why doing perfume collecting the right way shouldn’t involve any kind of guilt or buyer remorse. This article is a direct sequel to my previous topic of how to start a perfume collection, which I also recommend to read.

In this article you’ll learn the following:

• Can perfumes be addictive?
• Common signs of fragrance addiction
• How many fragrances should I own?
• How to enjoy perfume hobby?

Now, let’s check out these steps in the journey of fragrance collecting and learn how this growing hobby doesn’t make too much pressure on your wallet.

Can perfumes be addictive?

Just like any other hobby, being cars, shoes, or watches, the urge to get a new and shiny bottle can be addictive and shift into different territory.

Instead of apprenticing the perfumes you already have, the thrill of buying a new bottle, giving them a couple of sprays, and putting them back alongside other fragrances you already own starts to control your behavior.

According to Health Impact News article, “Fragrances contain chemicals that have narcotic-like properties. The substances might not produce a traditional narcotic high, but they do cause dependency, which triggers the need for repeated use of the product to avoid the discomfort and irritability of withdrawal.”

So, yes. Perfume buying addiction is a real thing that provides a quick sense of euphoria via dopamine and endorphin release into the brain.

Don’t forget that buying fragrances can get very expensive, especially if you are buying retail which I never recommend. To get the best perfume deals, check out my article about the best fragrance discounters.

Common signs of fragrance addiction

Here are a couple of the recognized traits of a shopping addiction that also applies to perfume shopping:

• The feeling of buying rush of euphoria when buying
• Shopping when anxious, depressed, stressed, and feelings of remorse or guilt
• An urge to lie to your family, friends, and partner about spending habits
• Just one more bottle and I’ll be happy
• Ending relationships with important people in your life
• Going into debt and ignoring more important things in life than perfumes

This all gave me an epiphany moment of realizing that no matter how much the collection grows bigger, the enjoyment experience becomes.

Once there was a perfume reviewer that said probably the most profound thing about perfume addiction: “You’ll never smell better than you smell today!” I couldn’t agree more.

Easy Solution To Prevent Impulse Buying

First things first, take a look at how many perfumes you already own, and how many of them you are actually using more than a couple of times per year.

After you have done this, and hopefully weren’t surprised by some bottles which you forgot about owning, think about which of the previously-mentioned signs drive you to buy just that one more bottle.

Congratulations, you have made the first two important steps to breaking this addictive behavior. The third step is to sell everything that gathers dust.

Don’t worry about how you are going to feel about this. In the fragrance world, scarcity is a lie. No matter what anyone tries to tell you, you can always repurchase sold fragrances in the future.

I see “rare” batches of Yves Saint Laurent Kouros and M7 all the time on eBay pop out all the time and is not that rare you can buy them for a great price.

And truthfully, buying a “vintage” fragrance isn’t that great idea. The risk of buying an old bottle and getting a dud is around 50% every time.

Believing that you’ll find your signature perfume via fragrance community pressure and that you have to have and know every new release ain’t the right way.

After you have recognized the issue of fragrance addiction, the fourth step is to ignore social media and online “influence“.

Online media channels such as Facebook, YouTube, and other fragrance websites could be potentially toxic environments for those battling with a shopping addiction.

Don’t get me wrong, all these sources are packed with great information about perfumes and perfume related products, but they sometimes promote a certain lifestyle of “keeping up with the Joneses”, that is unattainable for most of us.

I find the bigger problem with this being shown as something “inspirational” and a way to “belong“.

Thankfully, in recent years, I have seen many other people starting to talk more about this, reaching out without being ashamed.

Here are my pro tips on how to deal with this fragrance issue:

1. Go completely dark on any fragrance information for at least six months(deactivate or delete accounts)
2. Don’t buy or sample anything for this six month period
3. Start a new cost-free hobby like for example exercising, reading, or learning a new language until this period ends
4. After you have successfully avoided temptations, avoid blind buying and make a list of fragrances you’ll only sample
5. When feeling urged to buy the next bottle pick one friend that you can trust and talk about this issue and avoid excessive perfume buys
6. Always ask yourself: will the next purchase truly make you happy

I know, I know. All of this may seem like it’s too much at once, but it works like a charm since everything you read here has been tested on yours truly.

Before we continue to the next chapter, I want you to test yourself with the final fifth step and do a simple test which I call a “10-day no perfume challenge“.

Even if you are not addicted to perfume shopping or you are just wondering if this issue has affected you, I guarantee that this tool is great for self-reflection and a solid foundation when making a decision.

All you have to do is avoid using any sort of perfumed product for ten days straight. The answer will be revealed by itself.

How many fragrances should you own

During the last decade, I have seen two different kinds of perfume collectors. Those who are happy with few fragrances and those who own many.

In which bucket do you belong, that’s up to you to decide. But, if I would have to say a number, that would be 10 holy grail scents.

Why only ten, you ask? That’s a great question. To be recognizable by your potential signature scent, having more than ten at any point will make just more pressure than enjoyment for you.

Since there is only a limited number of days in a year, the last thing you want is to be pressured about thinking about what you’ll wear.

That’s why I present to you an ideal formula that you can use to avoid perfume buying addiction. After you have gathered 10 fragrances, calculate what’s left of your finances at the end of each month.

SCENT GRAIL’S PERFUME BUYING FORMULA

• $0 – don’t buy anything and/or sell excess perfumes you don’t use
• $100 extra – buy 1 which you have sampled previously and sell excess perfumes you don’t use
• $200 extra – buy 1 which you have sampled previously
• $500 extra – buy 2 and sell excess perfumes you don’t use
• $1000 extra – no limitations

As an additional safety measure, I have created a perfume buying guide called S.P.A. Signature Factor Guide.

Although, it was not originally created as something to control fragrance addiction, the main purpose of this guide is to be the easiest and the most relevant fragrance buying guide on the web.

S.P.A. stands for Scent, Performance, and Accessibility. By answering the 10 simple questions, this guide helps you decide if a particular fragrance is worth checking out.

Each category is created to target different emotions and needs which gives you important insights about your perfume taste and stands as an efficient buying guide.

With S.P.A. Signature Factor Guide not only that you’ll potentially find your signature perfume the easiest way, but you can also use it when battling with more serious topics such as fragrance buying addiction.

Being addicted to buying perfumes or not, the 10 perfume bottle mindset is a path of less is more, and quality over quantity.

How To Enjoy Perfume Hobby

When we put things into a certain perspective, enjoying the perfume hobby ain’t that hard. By avoiding rat-race, the pressure to being on top, or having the newest flanker from the line, one starts to enjoy what’s already in the collection.

Since the smell is our strongest sense which brings comfort, joy, and can remind us of the most cherished times in our lives, the perfume game should be something that gives us lasting satisfaction.

The following are my personal tips on how to enjoy perfume hobby:

• often we ignore the fact that the best perfumes are usually the most talked about. Use this knowledge to your advantage.
• enjoy what you already have in the collection. Use one perfume in different seasons and occasions to see how it works and changes.
• ignore the online hype, especially for new releases. There is a possibility that the reviewers have a biased opinion due to receiving free bottles.
• if a fragrance has stood the test of time, and is still popular after a minimum of five years, in that case, it’s worth sampling out.
• don’t compete with others, and what others have and share online. Don’t believe the illusion that you’ll feel better by owning 100+ bottles of expensive perfume.
• trust your nose and make a list of fragrances that you wish to sample. In the fragrance game, you and only you decide if something is good or bad.
• when you feel that the shopping is getting out of hand, take a break from social media, Youtube, and perfume related websites for at least six months.
• enjoy yourself by doing 80% of your time with other things in life besides perfumes.

Conclusion

Having a fragrance addiction otherwise known as perfume buying addiction can be hard if not controlled on time.

This is something most of the “frag-heads” experience at some point of their journey and is not something that you should be ashamed of.

If you have recognized yourself in this article, I’m glad that you have found it so that you don’t have to go alone during this period.

This article is somewhat a personal story and a solution based on my research. Since it has already worked on yours truly, give it a go, and let me know in the comment section below have you dealt with fragrance addiction yourself, or do you know someone close who deals with this issue.

Find out more Scent Grail articles about perfumery, check out top lists, and other helpful reviews via links below:

REVIEWS

• Terre d’Hermes
• Frédéric Malle Musc Ravageur
• Guerlain Heritage
• Guerlain Homme
• Acqua Di Parma Colonia Essenza Review
• Montblanc Explorer Review
• Bentley For Men Intense Review
• Lalique Encre Noire A L’Extreme Review

PERFUME LISTS

• Best Women’s Perfume Christmas Gifts
• Best Men’s Perfume Christmas Gifts
• Best Cheap Perfumes For Men
• Best Winter Fragrances For Men
• Best Men’s Colognes To Wear On A Romantic Date
• Best Books About Perfume
• Best Men’s Fragrances Of All Time

SCENT GRAIL LEARNING CENTER

• How To Wear Perfume
• Fragrance Strengths & Perfume Concentrations
• Designer Vs Niche Fragrances

Until next time, have a great time and choose your scent wisely!

Best, Marin!
#scentgrail #scentgrailtribe

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– Marin Kristic