What’s your EBP? (by Ann)

 No, that’s not some kind of official-speak, as in “Hey, Joe, what’s your ETA to the next delivery stop?”

It stands for Emergency Backup Perfume, and was coined by lovely Posse reader AnnieA on a post awhile back. I thought it a clever idea, and something  a lot of us probably do without thinking about it.    We spritz or dab a scent at home in the a.m., then put the spray, bottle or vial into to-go mode so we have it for touch-ups later in the day, and then head out the door. And after a busy day or week (or in my case, months), we often — at least I do — forget to take them back out again.

OK, I’ll go first. After dumping out my very cluttered purse, I have lurking: sample vials/sprays of Jo Malone Wild Bluebell, Kai, Dior’s Escale Portofino, and Calyx and White Gardenia Petals for a wrist-to-wrist comparison I was doing. As you might have guessed, all are left over from summer and our still-warm early autumn. Now that fall/winter’s here,  guess I need to replace them with more temperature-appropriate goodies, eh?

So let’s have some fun with this.  Have a peek into the bottom of your purses, backpacks, briefcases, etc., and share what scents you’ve got rolling around in there …

  • Rain says:

    ROFL! Liquid Prozac indeed (or in a few notable cases, liquid shock treatments.) Not bein’ in remotely the same financial universe with most of you, though, my personal worldview-spackle and eau de Zoloft is mostly of the back-alley-clinic kind: Yes, Virginia, there really are some very good knockoffs out there; the most recent one to inhabit my pockets is of Stella. Or there’s the more old-hippie-esque, grown-in- the-back-bedroom approach; I do make some rather yummy blends of my own from the remarkably inexpensive EOs available online, and they do get compliments. And finally, there’s the Zen approach: Be here now. If Imari or Haiku is what you can afford (and it is), DIG IT. :)

  • Wordbird says:

    I am so sad! I keep little tins and plastic cartons that look the right size to hold a few vials and keep them safe in my bag… But then I also have a couple of atomisers – small sizes of White Linen and Aromatics Elixir and travel atomiser of Creed Virgin Island Water, plus little 5ml bottles of Ava Luxe’s Bois Exotique and Crepe de Chine and I just found a tiny 2ml bottle of Uncle Serge’s Louve and a rollerball of Musc Ravageur huile a tout faire.

  • LindaB says:

    Too many lipsticks, glosses, and coupons!! ARGH!! Must clean out bag soon. I always have Pacifica Indian Coconut Nectar and EL Tuberose Gardenia with me as backups.

  • monkeytoe says:

    I am on a Caron kick. I have small vials of Nuit de Noel extrait, Parfum Sacre extrait, and vintage Poivre plus Black Tourmaline and Coromandel in my book bag. There are solids of Pacifica Tibetan Mountain Temple and Nerola Orange Blossom and a sample of Bois de Isles in my desk.

  • Jayne58 says:

    I have a couple of things scored off eBay in the last few days, some Chanel Cristalle Verte that arrived in the post this morning and got tossed in the bag for a road test even though it isn’t very weather appropriate. I also have Friday’s delivery lurking in the depths – a darling little bottle of Bal a Versailles parfum which is going to live with me now for a few weeks as it is so yummy and cosy and perfect for the autumn.

    • Jayne58 says:

      Unfortunately, I also appear to have a broken up stick of staples in there that I’d better clear out because rummaging around had become a bloody and dangerous enterprise.

  • Sara says:

    atomizers:
    DKNY Pure Verbena
    NR for Her

    samples:
    Eau de Hadrian
    Bottega Veneta
    Jo Malone Vanilla and Anise
    Jo Malone Grapefruit (to layer with the Vanilla and Anise)
    Chanel No 5 Au Premiere

    No wonder my bag is so heavy!

  • Reena says:

    I always keep my DKNY Be Delicious with me… It’s one of my signature scents. :)

  • nozknoz says:

    Oh, I love a vicarious peak into someone else’s bag! It’s so fascinating what we choose to keep close at hand.

    I usually have a bunch of samples that I’m testing, but I took them out recently and have only an aluminum and plastic travel atomizer from LuckyScent (the Travalo – expensive but secure) filled with Frapin Caravelle Epicee, which is always appealing.

    In my desk I’ve got several samples of Hermes Terre de Bois (a pick me up), a decant of LAP Traversee du Bosphore and a solid of Amouage Dia (treats!).

  • Isa says:

    Just a vial of Diptyque L’Ombre dans L’eau. It has been in my bag for months, and I have used it in some emergency occasions.

    Last year I had a 15ml bottle of Yves Rocher Comme une évidence in my bag, and I used it a lot. It’s a perfume I like in almost any moment.

  • mary says:

    I found a small decant of vintage Tabac Blond I had tucked in my bag meaning to give to a friend–but didn’t see him and so had forgotten about it. Yay! Just dabbed some on to smoothe out the rogh edges of this Monday afternoon.:d

  • Flora says:

    Hmmmm…got a vial of SL Bois de Violette, which I guess is perfect for just about any occasion should I be caught perfume-less! (My purse vials are usually plastic mini-atomizers to avoid a breakage issue.) I need to put something a little more winter-friendly in there just in case….

  • odonata9 says:

    I generally don’t carry samples or decants in my purse – too scared of breakage and/or spillage. I do have 3 solids in my makeup bag – Pacifica’s Tibetan Mountain Temple and Mango Grapefruit and a Yves Rocher Vanilla. Seems like they cover all the bases – incense (relaxing), citrus (refreshing), and gourmand (comfort)!

    • Joanna says:

      I haven’t tried the Pacifica Tibetan Mountain Temple yet but I do love their solid Spanish Amber, Mexican Cocoa and the Sandalwood. I keep them in my cubby at work actually.

  • Darryl says:

    Decants of Cartier Declaration and Dior Hypnotic Poison, and a 30ml bottle of SJP Lovely purchased yesterday ($19 Canadian, couldn’t pass it up). I’m also looking to fill a decant with Bulgari Black, since it’s getting an awful lot of play on my skin lately.

  • Joanna says:

    Child, Traversee du Bosphore, L’Heure Bleue, Michtecacihuatl and Prairie Nymph were found floating around my bag. There were also empty Garofano and Royal-Oud samples. Actually this little exercise made me aware that all of these scents mentioned are my mood lifters. My little vials of liquid prozac.

  • AnnieA says:

    I feel quite honoured that I’ve inspired a post! Ann, thanks for your kind words. In my bag there’s an atomiser of L’Eau Rare Matale, but that is premeditated, as I am out for supper and a concert tonight and wanted to top up my day’s perfume…

  • brigitte says:

    I am one of those crazy people who empties their pocketbook every evening.(I can do this because I am a minimalist). Right now my bag contains my wallet, my datebook,my keys and a small bottle of Reglisse Noire.

  • audrey says:

    My bag has:
    A decant of Fourreau Noir
    A decant of Musc Samarkande
    a JM Nectarine Blossom and Honey sample
    a Bond So New York purse spray

    I switch them out every few weeks……..I usually don’t need them, but try to have something for different circumstances. The most used is the Musc Samarkande because it’s so basic.

  • jen says:

    I have a spray of Tommy Girl and a sample of Rose Musc that is really strong and I should give away.

  • FragrantWitch says:

    Great idea for a post, Ann! Just tidied my handbag and found vials of LHeure Bleue, Tea for Two, a decant of AmbreGris and a tiny vial of Christian Lacroix Nuit for Her. I also have a mini of Eau de Merveilles in my cosmetics bag for days that I have nothing else- it always smells good and it very unlikely to be inappropriate anywhere.

  • Off the Top says:

    I just gave away a few things I had in the deep recesses to a budding enthusiast, so I’m now missing samples of JM orange blossom, Tauer’s insense rose, SSS velvet rose and Serge’s Un Lys. So what is left are wee purse sprays of OJ’s Tiare, Prada l’eau ambre, Alliage, and SSS Winter Woods, and a sample of PdN’s Temps d’un Fete and Amouage Epic.

  • Musette says:

    I always carry a little vial of vintage Mitsouko because without it I cannot be sure of not going berserk and chopping everybody up – or dissolving into a puddle of tears.

    accidental travelers are 2007 Iris Pallida and 2007 Diorling..and Montale Ta’if Roses? 😕

    and Calyx…:-?…and Amouage Homage attar. What a strange group of perfume passengers, huh?

    xo >-)

  • Madea says:

    I like light, cologne-like scents for EBP. They go with everything,and the odds of triggering a headache or starting a Thing with a perfume-phobe are low.

    Right now, my go-to is a nameless lavendar perfume my Dad got me on a business trip. It comes off as far more of a cologne that an an actual perfume, it has a spicy, medicinal smell and the power to lift my mood :)

  • Olfacta says:

    Hmmmm…just switched handbags, so I only have two. A 1 ml vial with about 1/4 ml of vintage Mitsouko perfume, which was meant to refresh same at the Thanksgiving dinner/party I went to, only I forgot. And a decant of L’Ombre Fauve — oh, that’s where it was!

    • Ann says:

      Hi, lady! So glad you found your decant — nothing worse than losing (or thinking you’ve lost) one of your precious scents. Lucky you, off to a clean start with another handbag; you guys have inspired me to dump mine all out tonight and start over, ha!

  • mals86 says:

    Just cleaned out my purse last week, so the only things in there are my small decant of Mary Greenwell Plum and a sample of Tauer Une Rose Chypree (I have two – and I’ve worn the thing several times, because A Little Goes A Long Way when you’re talking URC).

    At times, my backup stash has included No. 5 Eau Premiere, No. 19 edt, and Cuir de Lancome.

    • Ann says:

      Hey, Mals, good stuff all. I’m particularly fond of the MGP and that Cuir (although the Tauer is growing on me, but as you say, a little does go a long way). Very envious of your clean purse :)

  • March says:

    Lessee…. I have (in my purse and my car’s ashtray): Neil Morris Midnight Shadows, Maison Martin Margiela Untitled, Diptyque 34 something or other, an unlabeled vial (that Femme I wrote about from Chicago?), YSL Nu, Tauer Desert Marocain, and TDC de Bachmakov.

    • Ann says:

      Hi, sweetie! Some dee-lish choices you’ve got there. Is that the Neil Morris scent you wrote about the other day? Sounds divine; must try soon …

  • SilviaFunkly says:

    Had a good dig in my handbag and retrieved two samples of Tom Ford Bois Marocain and Violet Blonde, though they are not there specifically for back-up purposes as I only tend to apply scent once a day. I normally have more decants/samples on me.

    Generally ff somebody did a personality test based on the contents of my handbag, I’d be seriously ashamed.

    In my office drawer I have decants PdN Week-end a Deauville and Amouage Epic for emergencies.

    • Ann says:

      Thanks for sharing, Silvia. I need to dig out my Bois Marocain sample and wear it again. And I didn’t even think about desk drawers — we could do a whole ‘nother column on what’s in those!

  • Millicent says:

    I don’t have anything as midday backups — I guess I’m too worried about annoying the colleagues with a fresh spritz and whether Perfume B will play well with Perfume A that went on in the morning.

    In the morning I spend a fair amount of time matching scent to mood and occasion. What if EBP wasn’t Right later in the day?

    Thinking I need to lighten up a bit:”> (gravatar face with red cheeks)

    • Ann says:

      Hi, Millicent, I hear you on the midday applications, especially lately, as my new job comes with some scent-phobic folks. But a discreet dab on my wrist usually is OK.

    • Meg says:

      I’m the same, I don’t carry any perfume in my purse (it IS a small purse). I like to “commit” to my mood of my SOTD, maybe changing to something new in the evening if going out/ for bed.

  • OhLily says:

    Oh, excellent idea since my purse could use a good clean-up! Manufacturer purse sprays of Kelly Caleche, Stella Rose Absolute and Yves Rocher Vanilla Noir. Minis of Metal and Cristalle. No sample vials, but a ton of crumpled receipts and a vintage hanky I thought I’d lost.

    Goodness, I have more lip balm and gloss in here than scent, lol. Time to switch bags!

    • Ann says:

      Isn’t it amazing how much stuff collects over time? And a girl (or guy) can never have too much lip balm, I’m thinking. BTW, would that be the Paco Rabanne Metal scent you mentioned?

      • OhLily says:

        Yes, that’s the one. I try to make myself feel better about all the junk I accumulate in there by reminding myself how it was when the kids were little…Hot Wheels, Where’s Waldo wands and tiny action figure accessories. Then I just feel nostalgic. :)

  • Catherine says:

    Right now I’ve got SSS Jour Ensoleille and SL Jeux de Peau still lurking in my purse. I actually do keep spritz samples of Jo Malone’s Nectarine Blossom & Honey and Orange Blossom in my purse as emergency backups all the time though, for when I am too rushed to spritz in the morning!

    • Ann says:

      That’s what I do, as well, Catherine. JM’s Orange Blossom is one of my all-time faves and I like the Jeux de Peau in small doses.

  • Eldarwen22 says:

    From what I’ve dug out is a decant of Chanel Coco (not Madamoiselle), Amouage Lyric for women. Gotta have at least one or two decants for when I do forget to put on perfume when I’m going somewhere. Otherwise, I feel like I’m naked without perfume.

    • Ann says:

      I second you on the “naked without perfume.” Gotta have a little something, even if it’s just a dab.

  • sybil says:

    Bvlgari Black. And Chergui. And Encre Noire. Little minis in the aluminum-clad glass bottles from Sephora. I love those things.

    • Ann says:

      Yum, Sybil! Some nice choices you’ve got there.

    • Faylene says:

      Sybil, I see three atomizers on the Sephora site: two that require using funnels and one that doesn’t. Is there one in particular that you recommend? Thanks.

      • sybil says:

        Faylene, I’ve had good luck with the funnel one (glass with an aluminum shell) and I just squirt whatever juice I’ve got into the opening repeatedly till it’s full. I suppose it would be tougher if it didn’t come with an atomizer, but I can’t say for sure, never having done it.