I have been thinking about this topic for a long time, but lately, I have kept seeing negative perfume reviews written by enthusiasts or people who are more or less knowledgeable. This reminded me of my beginnings as a reviewer, more than 10 years ago, when I first joined the Fragrantica.ro website; I remember wanting my reviews to be understood, useful, and to receive the maximum number of balloons—because yes, likes on Fragrantica.ro came in the form of balloons.
Yet, back then just as now, I wanted to avoid influencing anyone negatively. I wanted my opinion to be clear and honest, but at the same time, I wanted to know that I was impacting the readers' opinion of that perfume in an objectively positive, not negative, way. Because what I like, you might not, and what I dislike, you might love. By treating and writing a review in this neutral manner, my goal is to help you understand a perfume, to help you identify with a scent, a thought, a mood, and its story correlated with its notes—not to imprint a negative aura through my own personal words. You, those who read my work and find inspiration through me, need to be inspired by transparent, real, and authentic descriptions based on what I objectively perceive, not on what I believe or on my personal tastes.
A review shouldn't be handled personally by me as a reviewer; doing so would only deliver my own affinities to you, and it would no longer help you discover yourself, understand your olfactive style, or perhaps reinvent yourself at a moment when you feel the need for something new, something genuine. However, I keep reading personal opinions about longevity, sillage, or the scent itself, arguing why we like or dislike a perfume—and I consider these approaches entirely flawed because I have been there myself, and they didn't help me.
I bought perfumes based on reviews I saw myself in, yet I didn’t find myself in those scents; and I didn’t buy perfumes I loved because, reading a review that wasn't at all to my taste, that fragrance became shrouded in an energy that didn't suit me, and I refused to buy it—being vulnerable, unknowing, and at the beginning of my journey. And I know what it’s like to be there, looking for reviews to your liking from people you like, people you identify and resonate with.
That is precisely why I prefer to share what I like rather than what I dislike; I never embrace the negative side of a scent—no matter how real it might be to me, it stays with me! What I choose to wear comes down solely to my own preferences—like wearing gourmand perfumes in the summer—but I do not adopt this behavior to pass it on, because not everyone feels or has the same needs as I do.
I can only guide you, direct you, suggest things to you, or perhaps help you choose between two or three scents that are best suited for you, after I try to get to know you. Based on your preferences, I can point your choice toward something much closer to what is perfect for you—a scent, a style. And yes, sillage and longevity are important too, because we are different—some people prefer discrete scents for various reasons, while others prefer a true olfactive trail! We are different, and that is what makes us special, but we must choose to wear what we like and what we identify with olfactively, keeping our own preferences in mind and merely being helped by reviewers, guided by them in a subtle, natural manner.
Olfactory guidance and counseling must be gentle, full of understanding and patience, because we know well that olfaction—the sense of smell—is one of our most important senses, tightly bound to memories and emotions, moods and feelings. That is why the gesture, the manner, the place, and the experience of choosing a perfume must be pleasant and authentic; it must represent us and reflect parts of who we are—but enhanced and brought to light by a guide with experience, patience, and empathy.
Empathy is the key for a reviewer, a consultant, a HUMAN.
Why do I say this?
When you choose a perfume, or when you look for information about one, you are actually looking for information about yourself—you are the one who wants to identify with a scent and wear an aroma that announces your presence to the world. And in this search, you sometimes become vulnerable, perhaps doubtful if you don't know what to look for, what suits you, and above all, where to look. There are so many options out there—designer, niche, indie, natural, or artisanal perfumes—it would probably take you half a lifetime to learn about them and your connection to them.
But this is where I come in, the olfactive consultant who, by empathizing with you, with your fears, and with your deepest desires, tries to get to know you and suggest perfumes that will bond with your soul and bring out the most beautiful and radiant parts of who you are. Therefore, although I consider this a beautiful field belonging to the luxury segment, it is still a domain where luxury intertwines with fragility, harmony intertwines with vulnerability, and empathy and gentleness are the factors that can make the difference between a good olfactive consultant, a good reviewer, and simply someone who creates content for marketing, to stir up controversy, and to criticize.
Criticism in the world of perfumery is also subjective, as it boils down to personal taste, and it is irrelevant to talk about why we dislike a note when that very note might be your favorite!
In conclusion, I will tell you that I choose to write reviews in an objective light, yet leaning toward the positive and real aspects of the tested perfume. I love to write about its notes, how they weave and harmonize together, how they evoke feelings, and how they draw out moods, thoughts, and emotions from within me. I love to write about my connection to scents, about the way they transport me to certain places, and I also adore those moments when testing certain perfumes makes me think of a loved one, of their preferences, knowing that the fragrance would suit them perfectly.
I adore weaving stories from the threads of a perfume's notes—stories in which you can find yourself, or that might spark your curiosity to test it so we can share our impressions afterward. My perception will never be exactly the same as yours, and that is what makes this olfactive universe infinitely beautiful, vast, and full of meaning.
If you found yourself in my words, I invite you to leave me a message so we can talk!
