For the next week, interspersed with what will (touch wood) be a normal posting schedule on APB, I’m going to be sharing reports on a little experiment I’ve decided to do.
Over the course of one week, I am going to be a walking sillage monster. I, who normally apply a discrete amount of perfume, am going to wear perfume with abandon. My goal is to wear enough that anyone within 3 feet of me could identify it, if it were Angel.
And then I’m going to sit back (figuratively) and see what happens. Will people comment? Will my employer institute a “no fragrance” policy? Will people at the gym pass out on the treadmill? (Okay, maybe I won’t wear as much to the gym.) Will I perhaps even get some compliments?
Today, I’m wearing Dita von Teese. Or perhaps it’s wearing me, at this point. Tonight, Opus Oils Tramp.
Stay tuned …
Fantastic! I love an experiment! I cannot wait to hear how it all goes. I too am very discreet with my perfume. It’ll be interesting to see how many compliments you get in comparison to rejections!
I love an experiment, too, even if it isn’t particularly scientific.
I’m normally a light applier myself – I’m interested to know how things go.
I will report back. Maybe the results will be favorable for all of us light appliers.
This sounds super exciting!!!!!
I’d love to join haha! – I’m currently in university internship and I don’t have the balls…!!!! -.
I’m looking forward to hearing from reactions you’ll get, please report on the positive and negative results!!
You should try it! Even if only for one day.
Awesome! I cannot wait to hear the results! You are a trailblazer, N
Heehee. Thanks, Dee!
Oooh what a fun project, Natalie! Looking forward to the feedback. I do think we don’t often get compliments because we don’t apply enough. With your good taste I doubt anyone will complain.
In other exciting news, Friday Night Lights starts in the UK tonight! Yay! Can’t wait to watch it after reading about it here and knowing how much you love it. Who is your favourite in it again?
Yes, I’m wondering about that. Have you read the latest post on Grain de Musc? That’s what got me thinking about it.
More importantly: FNL!!!! I am so excited it’s coming on in the UK. I love so many of the characters. My very favorite is Coach Taylor, but I also like his wife and Tim Riggins. I hope you will enjoy it. I’ll be interested in your take on it, too. I hope it “translates.”
Natalie, I loved the pilot of FNL! Thought Coach Taylor was the one you mentioned but all those characters seem cool. It’s good to watch something set in a world I know nothing about and I’m so glad you highlighted it because I wouldn’t have thought it was for me otherwise. So thanks!
I did read that Grain de Musc post. It would be great if you got similar responses to Denyse! It’s so funny the way she loves to be asked the name of her perfume when she’s wearing Putain des Palaces
I am *so* glad you like it!!! Like, silly glad.
I laughed when I read Denyse’s comment about Putain des Palaces, too. That is one instance when it would be kind’ve fun to say those crazy Etat Libre names out loud, just to see the reactions.
I love it. I would never dare in my office, Officially we are supposed to have a no-scents policy, but it has never been enforced. I would hate to have that change.
Yes, that’s probably wise. I wouldn’t want to ruin it for anyone else either. Fortunately, we have no such policy in place on my job. Of course, if that changes in a week, I suppose I will be to blame!
Wow. I LOVE it. Even the most teensy demure perfume takes on Godzilla-like dimensions when applied in abundance, so it will be interesting to see what reactions come of this. (Barring, of course, any torch-and-pitchfork-wielding villagers, or Sheriff-led posses looking to escort you straight to city limits…)
No posses so far (thank goodness!). How great will it be if I discover that people actually aren’t as scent-sensitive as I tend to think they are? (eyeing the possibilities in the perfume cabinet)
I love that! Thanks for doing this so we don’t have to!
You’re welcome!
I’m happy to “take one for the team.”
I work at an art gallery and all kinds of people come in. One day, I chose to wear Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle. It’s one of my favorites, and it always boosts my confidence, but it’s already a perfume with a lot of sillage, and I think I overdid it. A very handsome tall German man came into the gallery, and instantly his first words were “What is that smell?” I apologized and said it was probably my perfume. He said, “No, please, it smells wonderful, soapy and floral.”
I’m hoping the next time he comes in, he will remember the way I smelled and ask me to marry him. *sigh* A girl can dream.
Looking forward to reading what happens (and thanks for taking one for the team!
Thank you, BF!
I love this idea too! Looking forward to hearing how it goes! As rather an overapplier myself (and/or I just love huuuuuuge scents) I’m interested to hear how this works out for you.
Oh but I want further and better particulars. Is your approach to select the traditional sillage monster fragrances – Angel, Opium etc – and just use a few extra spritzes, or are you going to apply a half-bottle of Apres l’Ondee or A Scent by IM?
I do actually plan to wear Angel one day! I haven’t done it yet, but I’m thinking maybe on Saturday. Truly, though, I don’t own too many true sillage monster fragrances. I don’t own Opium, for example. And Mals kindly suggested some other monsters on Twitter, as did Sheila and others, and I didn’t own any of those either. So I’m going overboard on what I do have (or what I would consider overboard). Part of what I’m curious about is whether my idea of overboard will really be bothersome. But I may have to come out and ask if I want that information …
I like the idea in general but I’m not sure if I should try anything like that in my office… I have at least one co-worker (actually, a subordinate!) who complained aloud about my perfume saying she had an allergic reaction. Well, it happened after other two co-workers and I discussed that perfume for a while, it wasn’t that strong she was just being a killjoy but I wouldn’t want to cause problems by wearing my perfumes stronger than I normally do. Also, in my off-work life I’m not shy with my perfumes.
But I look forward to reading your reports.
You are nicer than I am. I think if someone complained I would almost want to wear more perfume around them.
Ahhh I love a good social experiment!! Can’t wait to see what kind of reactions you get from people. I find Shalimar and Vintage Rose by Sonoma Scent Studio seem to get the most reaction from people whenever I wear them – clear the room!
Social experiments are so fun, aren’t they? Ironically, I wore an SSS fragrance today. Champagne du Bois is one of the few fragrances that have garnered compliments when I’ve worn it previously, but none today. I should try Vintage Rose before the Monster experiment is up.
Alynsie and Bloody Frida beat me to it, haha!
I would be so curious to try such a thing, but feel sure I’d bottle it (literally, and rather counter-productively) before I got out the door…!
It has been very much outside my comfort zone! But surprisingly, no negative reactions so far.
Is there any perfume that you *do* tend to apply liberally? This experiment has gotten me really curious about people’s application habits.
Also, it is making me feel really good about the amount of perfume I own. At this rate, I could be down to a “normal” amount pretty quickly!
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No, I only ever apply perfume liberally by accident, usually when decanting!