Top 5 things we hate about the fragrance industry

[@khoroshsabzi]

My biggest problem with fragrances is sillage. Sometimes I feel they don't pay enough attention to it.

[@Dafoodmaster]

Too much? Too little? Explain

[@amorphousface2401]

I totally agree. Sillage is pretty important to me.

[@tally1604]

My pet peeve with the fragrance industry is that they make testers snell stronger and better. So you spray it on your wrist, let it sit for an hour while smelling it, and it's out if this world. You buy a bottle, take it home, and it is nowhere near strong enough nor lasts as long as the tester. Underhanded. Creed us famous for it, for one.

[@FragranceBros]

at the time we shot this video, Thierry Mugler was selling most of their men's line for $70, so when Taste of Fragrance came out at the $90 price point, it was too high, in our opinion. that being said, we are going to pay the least we can for a bottle to save as much money as we can. and we understand that some countries have limited access to fragrances and have inflated prices, but that doesnt mean that we still wouldn't pay for a higher priced fragrance.

[@celinamaddox8463]

Sephora gives up to three samples per visit, they're in small vaporizers, and they're free. Just don't be a sample hoarder.

[@FragranceBros]

@PrisonerInGlass i recorded our process of making them. i'll have to upload them soon. it was super easy to make. the price per bottle was a lot less per person when we split them between three people. for a single person to buy all the ingredients, though it's not nearly as much as Escentric Moecules, will probably be a little higher than $22 that we paid. we'll upload the video in a couple of weeks, probably. :)

[@duplomacette]

What's the best fragrance to wear while twerking?

[@norarazaai]

hahahahahahaaahhaha

[@FragranceBros]

@vmendonc yeah i can see that. i can especially see that with Pure Malt since it has a peat note (apparently), and it seems like that's not a very common note in fragrances. but i dont understand why Pure Coffee is limited, though. all its notes are very common! oh well. lol. thanks for commenting! that's a great point!

[@QWERTYOP80]

Great vid, bro's! I hate how some frags are widely available in some countries, and almost impossible to find in others. And also how they can vary so wildly in price from country to country.

[@indoleholic]

This book is such a cool find! Thanks for sharing! I'm now tempted to get my hands on it, get informed, and then use the GC/MS at work...lol. Could be dangerous! One note about reformulations: I usually think that reformulations happen because of tighter regulations, not because of cost. I'm sure that both happen, but the IFRA regulations in the EU have driven a lot of older stuff to be reformulated with new, "less hazardous" chemicals.

[@Apero1Spritz]

I'm with you. Perfume costs a lot more to buy in some parts of the world. In my country, a 4oz bottle of Creed GIT costs US$360, a 3.4oz bottle of Amouage Reflection charges a staggering price of US$425. Plus, selection is limited and, of course, there won't be any possibility to sample before you make the purchase. Same goes for the designer frags. I've compared the prices on US Amazon website and those at the local discount shops. On average, local prices are inflated by 40%-50% :(

[@martinaee]

Some reformulations are being done because certain ingredients are being banned. I just read an article today that oak moss is being pretty much phased out in fragrances because it has been shown to be an allergen. Chemists are having to make synthetic versions of the real thing.

[@ThePerfectElement555]

Totally agree on reformulations. Companies should be required to alter the name after changing the scent. On another note, one specific pet peeve I have is TM's ambiguous and unclear "announcements" for re-releasing the Pure flankers. I thankfully got a bottle of Pure Malt in the last re-release, but their twitter account said it would be released in September and it was actually late August. If I hadn't happened to check basenotes forums that day, I would've missed out as I'm sure many did.

[@SteveThaw]

Saks does have an exclusive contract with Bond, or at least had. They did not get the I Love NY line exclusively, it's also at Nordstrom, and I've heard that the whole line is popping up in some Nordstrom's on the west coast.

[@silverpunk2427]

This was an awesome video. I commend you guys for having the balls to talk about these topics. I hate how certain fragrance companies web sites doesn't give a list of notes, but instead give some outlandish fairytale description of it. I also hate how certain fragrances aren't available in smaller sizes

[@vmendonc]

Great rant guys!! I'm really thinking about doing one of this myself. One point, on limited ed. is the limited supplies of the essential oils, I know for a fact, that some companies do that because of it. Cheers guys!

[@brandonbigburd1062]

first time watching you guys, im totally going to binge watch your channel. i love your sense of humor.

[@FragranceBros]

Brad matthews thank you! :D

[@brandonbigburd1062]

no problem

[@trencher7]

Great vid. So true about samples. They should sell them for cheap. Nordstroms lets you fill those little spray decanters and I always feel like I'm stealing when I'm filling one up. Like any second a security guard is going to put his hand on my shoulder. Anyway it's pretty cool they let you do that, but it seems to be for a specific fragrance they will put on a table. Not sure if they would be ok with grabbing any bottle on off the shelf and filling up.

[@alejandro-vr9gv]

I was cologne shopping the other day and I went to two stores and asked them if I could have a test tube of la nuit de l'home and dolce light blue . They gave me those two test tubes which I took on my vacation

[@FragranceBros]

Awesome!

[@FragranceBros]

i understand. :) i see what you're saying, and we don't mind criticisms on our channel, even if you did give us a criticism. :) yeah, we are lucky in that our country is one of the largest fragrance markets in the world, so because of that, we get lower prices than some places in the world. so for that, we're grateful. :)

[@irulemuch]

please send this video to all fragrance manufacturers around the world!!! They might listen to you guys!

[@LovelyMorwen]

The funny thing is that niche brands (the few we can get) have prices that are average or common in many countries.

[@jdolani]

Awesome video! Not having samples or testers available really irritates me.

[@LovelyMorwen]

I have to add another that came up to my mind while listening to Daver. He was complaining for a fragrance that costs US$90. In my country, and many others, fragrances prices double (at the least) the price it has in the US. A bottle of Dior Homme of 50 ml. costs US$90 in my country.

[@trencher7]

And so true about TM and the unavailable fragrances. I got a sampler of Taste of Fragrance and I don't even want to spray it since it might go for $100 on eBay in a year. I woould like to smell it someday.

[@TheBeliever1989]

Very good video. You guys have given the honest opinion and the correct information about the fragrance industry. Thanks.

[@SoleRoca]

Dior just brought everything "In House." They used to contract with a 3rd party manufaturer that actually made all of Dior's fragrances. These companies are the actual developers and owners of the fragrances' formulations. This move to "In-House perfumery" on Dior's part is without a doubt for the sole purpose of cutting costs (& in turn - make more cash). Just like Fahrenheit, the Homme line is now in-house, & sadly - not the same

[@FragranceBros]

@ThePerfectElement555 yeah, that's one thing we really don't like about TM. we were able to get Pure Malt when it came out, too, but if hadnt have been for someone letting us know about it, we wouldve waited a day or two longer and wouldve missed out! apparently Pure Coffee is coming out "at the end of November". whatever that means...

[@slesperado]

I totally agree with what you said about Angel Men A Taste Of Fragrance. Two days after I bought that, I took it back to Macy's and got my money back. That's the first cologne I've ever returned in my history of collecting colognes! The ONLY good thing about that cologne was it's base notes, which only lasted for about one hour. Everything else before that was just disgusting! I absolutely love Pure Malt and Pure Havane!

[@ChilledPint]

What is the difference between Mugler's Pure Coffee and a niche fragrance?

[@Dreez76]

What i dislike about the fragrance industry. 1) All the fakes. Not directly the industry, but collecting fragrances and fearing the fakes. 2) Reformulation... HATE IT, STOP IT !. If it aint broken, don't fix it. 3) Getting testers is hard or sometimes impossible, and if you live in a small town like i do, you have to pretty much blindbuy all bottles.

[@gk742]

REFORM!!! That's the worst, hands down. You start out with a great fragrance and get the audience... then change it up? Make it weaker or take out some notes? I understand sometimes IFRA restrictions cause changes, but most of the time I'll bet it's for economic reasons or some misunderstanding of what the market wants.

[@AvocadoBaby1212]

Nordstrom is usually good about samples. You can just ask, or sometimes they have mini spray vials for you to fill up yourself. I have about 50 from them!

[@LovelyMorwen]

I totally get it, I hope it didn't come out as criticism for you (English is not my first languange but I adore this channel), but imagine if US$90 is expensive in the US for a designer fragrance... just imagine the prices here!! I know there's taxes and shipping, but sometimes is too much. I think part of it is to make a fragrance bottle even more of a luxury stuff. I understand if it's Creed or Bond Nº9 but a Polo? a Burberry?

[@Hungstar69]

sometimes they got to reformulate stuff becoz it gets harder to acquire it, or its getting more rare.

[@177923rb]

Body Kouros , D&G Sicily, for examples.. Dontcha just hate it when you fall in love with a scent and they discontinue it.. And every drop in your bottle becomes so precious and reserved only for special occassions.

[@bjj_9925]

In Uruguay, the country I live in, if you buy a fragrance in retail, they give you free samples. That's what I like about buying in retail, but on the other hand, fragrances are taxed to death here, so they cost double hehe, you can't win them all I guess.

[@FragranceBros]

@Frunkinator thank you sir! can't wait to watch that video then!! :D

[@IcemanSlice]

Love this video. I agree with everything tenfold. Awesome stuff. More Michael Mac!

[@lilkmak]

One comment: I understand looking for the cheapest price, I do the same, but when people aren't willing to pay retail prices, the company raises the prices because of all the second market discounts. People need to understand that always looking for the cheapest price eventually means China quality, and an increase in French/Italian quality. I'm not saying go out and pay full price, I am just saying from a business POV, this is what happens. The cost is only going up. Love the video.

[@VMX]

You guys should have mentioned fragrances being discontinued. It seems they always get rid of the best ones.

[@djilyaz]

I never pay more than $40 for a 100ml. I love copy cat fragrances, because its a cheap alternative, and competition drives prices down, theoretically.

[@bpwool]

Enjoyable video. I would probably have to say that I think it's upsetting that the fragrance industry gets carried away with flankers that don't even share any similarities to each other. Who thinks that Fahrenheit 32 smells anything at all like Fahrenheit?

[@judthestudo2]

Right, give us the samples! Buying expensive niche samples that come in the little splash vials--these have never panned out for me. Maybe it has been the ones I chose, but I have yet to find a niche I enjoy more than my favorite Diors or Lancomes. And I love my Polo Blue, reminds me of college. :)

[@GaryAKline]

About offering samples... they can (and likely will) get passed around. Which is a form of advertising. If they're confident in the appeal of the fragrance, the sample "out in the wild" is like a business card. It could stay with one person or wander around to several more. What really bothers me with reformulations is where it is changed and not necessarily due to newly imposed restrictions. For a long running fragrance, they may change it to think it'll widen appeal... when in fact you may end up losing original customers. I agree, raise the price on the original by a little and if you love it you'll buy it. DHI (Dior Homme Intense) was reformulated, then reformulated yet again to be reputed as nearly returning to the original aroma. That's a good example. Question becomes, why did they reformulate it to begin with? And, did they listen to the feedback to the point of "restoring" it? Sure would be nice to know...

[@chanceuxlilas]

Could you make a video on Niche Fragrance Dupes?

[@kazzuo32]

i love Creed but it kills me. that the pretty bottle cost more than $$700. crazy.

[@massive951]

Very interesting. BTW, I'd like to request "What a fool believes" ;)

[@root9065]

I just bought D&G Pour Homme, from a reputable store in Europe so I think I got the latest reformulated mess. It literally smells like industrial detergent. If I got a backup bottle of A-men or DHI (even though that's reformulated too) I would have been so much better off, instead of paying 90$ for the most expensive box of liquid industrial detergent in my life. I am so not buying any D&G, Boss (except #6), CK, Gucci generic crap anymore. So yea, reformulations.. Great video Bros as always ;)

[@jcb-bv5yf]

I'll tack one on...the "vaulted" scents..WTH Creed? It's like a Disney movie (back to the vault). Similar to what you guys are saying about limited release. Oh, one other House needing the pimp slap...Le Labo. City Exclusives, really? I don't live in NYC or London or Dubai. Nor do I live near a Le Labo boutique. I guess you'd rather the secondary market reap all the profits you could be recognizing if you sold it online...whew, I'm spent.

[@FragranceBros]

@SoleRoca will that affect the quality in a good way or bad way?

[@FragranceBros]

@Phenix101TPJ vanilla isnt a panty-dropper?? ;-)

[@perfectscents4451]

I agree 110%and I live in a place that is like where u guys live where there is no high end fragrance stores I have Dillard's and sophora and we knw most of them that work there are rude and don't want to help u they would rather text lol and then my store was the only just fragrance store te only nichie we carry was some creeds and a few bonds I was the asst manger of the store and they came down and closed us a couple days ago its was only a second job for me thank god great video guys

[@bleachisgreat963]

Excellent points!! I agreed with everything you guys said.

[@nawraskhalil2712]

The thing I hate the most is how they discontinued Tom Ford's fragrances when he was with Gucci and YSL

[@Dreez76]

Discontinuing Gucci Pour Homme = Big mistake.. now its 250$ / bottle.

[@FragranceBros]

@amg90069 yeah, we'll upload the video eventually. it was actually super simple. i just googled "iso e super" and found an online store that sells it. seeing as how there's only one ingredient, i dont see how this would smell any different than Molecule01.

[@AvocadoBaby1212]

reformulations can be excusable sometimes (sometimes it's for legal reasons with ingredients) but I just wish they TOLD us the damn truth if we sent them an e-mail so there wouldn't be so much scrutiny

[@tonymarinelli7304]

What always cracks me up is, many of you gentleman from the fragrance community who do reviews claim to getting ALL of these random comments about how great you smell. I wear many of the same things that are reviewed and quite frankly, I am a working muscian and a male model, so I am not quasi moto, however, every once in a while I might get a, "you smell really nice."

[@tonymarinelli7304]

I actualy didn't mean you guys. You guys are alwyas humble and honest. There are a few in the community who make those claims and I just scratch my head in wonder.

[@FragranceBros]

Tony Marinelli I gotcha. I'm deleting my previous comment. lol

[@tonymarinelli7304]

No problem, I love you guys and would never say anything to offend you, truly. God Bless

[@FragranceBros]

Tony Marinelli Yeah, I apologize. :) The trolls have been out in force lately. :)

[@tonymarinelli7304]

Not a problem!!! I figured I came off the wrong way. Still love you guys, in fact, watching one of your posts as we speak.

[@Guinea54]

Interesting video and entertaining.. Some good points.. I def hate the reformulations! DHI, probably isn't worth the money to them to have two fragrances if one isn't selling well.. Btw how many people out there do you think knows what pure coffee is? im talking about outside of this community. And working from home? your my damn hero! haha @ some of ur other complaints.. damn straight! you guys are great

[@wagsbass]

speaking of niche prices, check out the price of Creed Royal Service on creedboutique

[@J_M_E_83]

Thierry Mugler Should make all the ''Pure'' flankers available but just make them all $100, kind of like Hermes with theyre Hermessence line

[@FragranceBros]

@VMX that's true!

[@FragranceBros]

@razscott hahaha! thanks!!! cheers!

[@CanwllCorfe615]

I agree with everything you guys mentioned, especially price and samples! I mean come on. You can't spare just ONE milliliter? Or .5-.7? Nonsense.

[@2083urmo]

Hey how are you guys doing ? Great reviews by the way . Is it possible to review Puredistance Black. Thanks,

[@cravis123]

7:47 prophecy about JF....wow!

[@FragranceBros]

😁😜

[@micheljean8065]

We are addicted people to the perfumes and we are not exactly normal compare to the other people....It's not normal to have 100 bottles of perfume or more....So the perfume companies are like pushers..And they have no choice because we are not normal people...Because we have a problem of personnality...I personnally have bought about 60 bottles of 100 Mll. since 1 year...It's not exactly normal...My name is Michel, I live in Montreal, and I have compassion for both of you. Mister Tom Cruise and Pavarotti.

[@WaylonCarruthers]

Great inputs, I agree on everything

[@FragranceBros]

@martinaee HAHA!!! Jer is a riot. that really was funny when he did that impression, because i've never heard him do that before. LOL

[@rhaybans]

now this was a great video idea.

[@Gamescare]

You can get designer samples for free at Sephora :D

[@LeEgoisteNYC]

We, the fragrance consumers, are to blame for the way the industry has headed. We purchase the fragrances even though stores do not give samples. Don't purchase any fragrances for a month and see how quickly the fragrance houses and stores, begin to provide samples. As for quality, the same thing. We continue to purchase fragrances although the projection an longevity are for shit. When a company re-formulates a fragrance, stop buying it. Watch how quickly they go back to the original.

[@kirill19902]

You guys are the best!

[@wagsbass]

@FragranceBros i'm a Creed fan but this is totally and utterly NOT worth the price. Its just about bragging rights with CRS. This one is for people with money to burn. I enjoyed this rant and looking forward to more rants in the future. Hey you guys should check out Atelier Cologne, very fresh juice but not in any way boring like Cereus. Its very suited for warmer climate like what you have down south. i can recommend Bois Blonds & Orange Sanguine by Atelier Cologne.

[@MrNavi402]

Another great video! Soon after watching this i listened to some Michael Mcdonald tunes! LoL!

[@FragranceBros]

@wagsbass good LAWD! that can't be worth it. lol. jeeeeeez! thanks for pointing that out, because now i have something to rant about anew. lol

[@zonemanager3]

perry ellis for men is terrible jer...great vido guy i agree 100%!!

[@asteriskesque]

I WOULD PAY FOR SAMPLES TOO! Oh my god. Charge me $5 for a 1ml with a sprayer. I would gladly pay it.

[@wagsbass]

that micheal mcdonald impression was very funny

[@topgear1138]

@FragranceBros Oh yeah... and the flanker thing. "we've got this great seller. Let's make another great scent that smells nothing like the big seller, but let's call it a flanker so the name alone will sell".

[@FragranceBros]

@rhaybans thanks Dave!

[@forthydollars]

great video guys :D

[@milesdavis7819]

TRUE!, on all points made. That "panty dropper" designation on a fragrance is pure bullshit! Love your reviews and your "not quite" reviews!

[@Guinea54]

@Guinea54 and i don't mind copy cats.. i rather spend less money lol. If the copy cat does a good job for a good price! Im happy

[@wagsbass]

good rant f'bros

[@PowerOfTheNose]

Another thing you should add is fragrance community greedy fans. For example, ike u established in the video thierry mugler comes out with 50 bottles of pure coffee every 6 or so months. People just buy 20 bottles of it at a time and not everyone gets a bottle. GRR workin on my nerves

[@FragranceBros]

@zonemanager3 hahaha!! Perry Ellis is going to an ongoing joke--we can already tell. LOL.

[@nickshively1]

2000 subscriber!

[@Phenix101TPJ]

You know what I hate/just don't understand?! Why do guys' frags have so much vanilla?! There are so many scents out there! I understand - dudes like vanilla, but something must be said about variety in spice. Speaking of spice, I've heard "Chrome" and "panty-dropper" used in the same sentence! hahaha ;-)

[@martinaee]

LOL I didn't fukcccking know who Michael McDonald was but after I looked I laughed my ass off!! It does sound just like him.

[@tally1604]

Btw, Daver, Jer, be careful about cooking frags in your garage lest the man thinks you're running a meth lab :)

[@177923rb]

hahah.. you guys talked about the panty removing properties of fragrances.... you should see the movie, Perfume: Story of A Murderer. The anti-hero in it creates a scent that induces a whole town to get into an orgy.

[@topgear1138]

I hate the "SPORT/SUMMER" thing.

[@xcessive37]

As far as "panty droppers" go I nearly seduced a blind girl and the only thing she knew about me was that I smelled great. The fragrance? Bleu de Chanel!

[@Grekerslund]

Funny video but companies price their products based on supply and demand and not how much it cost to produce them. Economics 101 ;)

[@FragranceBros]

yeah, this is a very old video. :)

[@SoleRoca]

@FragranceBros in a bad way :*( You can already see that the changes that have taken place (and YES I understand that it is all subjective - BUT majority rules). The majority of people prefer the original forms to the new ones (so far). It's just a sad fact of the "Frag Life" that we live....lol :-D

[@hypnamog]

5 Things we hate about the fragrance community? I have 5 and Creed is ALL of them.

[@177923rb]

I think celebs should keep their nose ( no punn intended ) in their own business and not meddle in the perfumers art. Unless they actually are passionate about fragrances and involve themselves 100% in the creative project, they shouldn't be allowed anywhere near absolutes.. I am sure fume heads would concur with me after smell all these celeb fragrances in the market. Generic, vanilla, berries, watery. Pedestrian and boring, created to make an easy buck.

[@eldotjay]

loool This video is the TRUTH!!!

[@razscott]

Smells like BUTTFUNK!! LOL!! Some fantastic topics there guys!! Cheers!!

[@DJGenki]

Do you age Dave 😂

[@FragranceBros]

😂😂😂😂 bless you