Los Angeles Scentsation report

I just returned from my trip, which was at the same time as yours. I was so disappointed I had to miss it, so yeah, another one would be GREAT! I would love Paris, but Chicago is right around the corner from me, so that's good too :) I vote to see the unedited tapes... Portia is a hoot, and you know what you're in for before you click the play button. Hilarity IMO :P

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This sounds wonderful! I wish I could've made it. I would suggest Dubai for an event but, while we have a ton of choices for perfumes (and lots of other stuff to do) there is a definite lack of small niche perfumeries which is where I think you get that true customer service. Most of our stores end up being like you Barney's experience except for a few above average SA.

How fun. I'm so glad that you all had such a great time. Portia looks so in her element behind the counter at Scent Bar! Maybe next time! xoxoxox Steve

I have been trying to go to one of these events since somewhere in the vicinity of 2005, but no such luck. Would sure love to go on a Posse Bus trip. Want to see the tapes unedited! Love you guys!

I have never been to a perfume event but it sounded like so much fun! I would love to one day!

Wow, sounds like such a wonderful time! I went to Sniffa in NY 4 years ago... it was my first (and only, so far) event and I had a wonderful time. There were wonderful seasoned perfumistas who guided me and made me laugh. I had a great time. I would LOVE to attend a posse event as I truly love all the characters who write (and visit/comment). Oh,and I vote for Paris. Tee hee! :-) Thank you for the draw. xox

P.S. I would love to be entered in the draw.

The only perfume "event" I have been to was a perfume event at my local Nordstrom, all mainstream all the time, a major disapointment. I would love to attend a Sniffa, will have to pray to the perfume gods for a major income increase. I would love to hear more about this event and please, please, please post the Portia videos - she is a hoot and I also want her hair.

Have never attended a perfume event, but would love to see more pictures. Looks like fun!

I've never been to a perfume event. I almost went to the New York Sniffapalooza but things just didn't work out. Eventually I'll get to one.

I've never been to a scent event before, but if the Posse decides to do a Scentsation anywhere on the East Coast I'll be there...

Now I'm having regrets I didn't come down from the Bay Area! But we have regular perfume events here, in San Francisco's Union Square, where there is almost everything (and the Barney's staff is AWESOME). You all should come to that one day! Tama Blough organizes these events--thank you, Tama!

Aww- I wish I could have been there and met you all and the lovely Portia! But I had a conference in Florida to attend so couldn't make it. I vote for next year in LA! That's funny about Barney's- I would've thought they would have loved having you guys. I have had a nice experience with one of the SAs (I think Angela) who you used to work at the scent bar (and who was at scent bar the first time Andy Tauer visited if anybody remembers).

I must know what this bottle is from the event! It's in the 10th picture, next to the Tauer and Knize Ten: http://www.hypoluxe.com/blog.html

I'm late to comment but just wanted to say thank you to Patty and Anita and everyone else who helped organize Saturday's trip, and especially to Portia for keeping us all entertained. Everyone at Luckyscent and BeautyHabit was amazing, and so generous with the giveaways, and Brent from Smell Bent was great to actually come talk to us on the bus. I was sort of nervous about going, actually, with the drive to LA and everything, but I'm so glad I did. Would love to do another one sometime.

Since I live on the other side of the world, I will have to live vicariously...please post more about this fabulous event, photos etc. Or bring everyone to Australia next time!

Interesting that LA Barneys was so unpleasant. At SF Barneys, the SAs are super friendly and attentive, maybe too much! Every time I visit the perfume basement I pick up a tail of perfume-savvy SAs . . . now that I think about it, maybe they're watching to make sure I don't shoplift. Dammit. I had a wonderful time meeting up with a fellow sniffer I met in the comments section of the April Perfume Fairy Godmother post, one CarolynC. We went to MiN together. SO MUCH FUN. I'm fairly introverted, but these perfume events sound awesome.

It's a shame about the LA Barneys. When we did the original Chicago Event (Chicocoa Scentsation) the staff was WONDERFUL! They really made that Event a delight! Considering the rather large number of simoleans that were spent this past Saturday.....

It sounds like SO much fun, I wish I could have been there. I haven't been to any perfume events although I would have loved to attend the Art of Scent exhibit in NYC. Unfortunately, like many others posting here, I probably won't get the chance to attend something like this except for a large inheritance. I would love to be entered in the draw - the bag sounds amazing! Glad everyone had such a fantastic time, and I'd love to see more pictures and video from the event!

I've never been to an event and it would be a dream come true to attend one. That bag sounds amazing.

I have been cursing my luck at the event falling between my moving away from LA ( in October) and coming back for a visit ( I"ll be there Friday night!) Now I get to add missing meeting Lisa D ( a fabulous swap partner!) as well as the rest of you. I will absolutely drive to one near Chicago, St Louis, Atlanta, New Orleans, Dallas...just need some notice. Please oh please oh please...video, more posts, open up a thread to those who attended to comment..anything so that we can all get a feel of how it went!

I'm glad it was so much fun! I just attended my first perfume event, the Seattle Artisan Perfume and Chocolate Salons last weekend, and it was fantastic. It feels so rewarding to be around other perfume lovers. The gift bags you're giving away sound like they're filled with amazing scents!

I'd probably be anosmic after the first 15 minutes as my nose numbs out on overload! Still I would LOVE the whole sense of community and the common interest and enthusiasm. Unfortunately there is nothing of that sort anywhere near where I live.

Had a wonderful time!! So many fun people, and Scent Bar and BeautyHabit were lovely hosts! Portia, you had me laughing so much on the bus (I was sitting in the seat behind you with my husband). You are a doll. Loved meeting the Posse! I have so much swag that I will be sniffing for months. :). Thank you so much for organizing this! And I would go to another in LA or Portland (as suggested above).

Yes, lets do it in Paris...!

I would love to go to a perfume event, as I’ve never been. What about someplace like Philadelphia? I’d much rather go to a Posse scent event than any other. Thanks for the report, looking forward to more stories, and thanks for the draw!

I've never been to a perfume event but would really like to. I don't know if we have any in Texas.. I'm pretty sure not in Houston. Since we don't have anywhere near as much niche stuff as LA does, anything here is more likely to be corporate. I don't know what the perfume shopping situation is like in Dallas (and I am curious, so if there are any Dallas people around, let us know what's going on there). I would've loved to come to LA this time but couldn't afford to. If it were to happen again in LA or Chicago or wherever I would definitely be interested if funds allow.

A non-perfumista friend and I went to a sniffapalooza in San Francisco a couple of years ago. It was a really interesting day, and the perfume SAs at the SF Barney's were pretty nice.

I just viewed all the pictures on the Hypoluxe Blog. Now I'm more jealous than before. :) It looks like everyone had a spectacular time, and I want Portia's hair!

Never have, but I so, so want to! Maybe one day I'll make it to NYC...West Coast is too far though I would like to see it someday. Portia sounds so fabulous and real-life perfume enthusiasts and sniffing galore...oh....sigh. Love reading write-ups

I live in San Diego so I thought about making the trip up, but I would have had to get up at 5 am, drive several hours by myself up and back too. It would have been too much for this very pregnant lady. But I should be up for it next time, if you were to do LA again - I hope you do! I haven't been to any other perfume events as San Diego doesn't have as much to offer as the big cities, and haven't made it to NY or SF for Sniffa. Thanks so much for the opportunity to take part vicariously!

This sounds way more fun than my weekend which consisted of being slamming busy at work, sudying for my finals and then yesterday going to court so I wouldn't get evicted and then doingmediocre on my final. I did, however, manage to get to. MIN to pay for Pretty Machine and get a handful of samples. If you do Paris (or London) can you do it in the latter half of 2015? That'll be in that 6 month grace period between graduation and when I have to start paying back my loans. I think it would be crazy fun to do a perfume event, and now that I live in NJ maybe I'll go to Sniffapalooza if it doesn't occur when I have class

I have never been to a perfume event, but would love to someday! Maybe have the next one in Boston? Thanks for telling us about Scentsation; it sounds like it was wonderful, and thanks for the draw.

Would love to attend and have not been able to. My vote is for Chicago as I could drive there. I'm in Cleveland, so NYC would work, too. Anyway, sounds like a good time was had by all. Thanks for the draw.

I would love to attend a perfume smelling event some day in the future! Sounds like an amazing time :)

I've never been to a perfume event. I hope that one day, I will be able to do so.

Like so many other folks who posted above, I'm living in a remote area far from a Metro area. I do my sniffing by ordering samples, etc. Having the opportunity to win a gift bag is amazing. Thanks. :) Having the Perfume Posse Sniffa in L.A. makes sense to me. (hahaha....I just typed "makes scents"...) Having the rare opportunity to visit Luckyscent and BeautyHabit ----- well,to me, those are like the Mother Ships of Perfume Bounty!! L.A. also seems like a good gathering place for various independent perfumers, too. Also......in a purely selfish way, L.A. would be MUCH more accessible for me. Besides, I could entice my family with a "side trip" to Disneyland as an added bonus, right?? Thanks for the commentary, the pictures, and video --- post everything, ok? Cheers!

I am DYING to attend a perfume event! But I also equally want an afternoon spent poring through Luckyscent.....heaven! I can't wait to see the videos :) Thank you for the giveaway!

I wanted so much to be there, to hang out with all y'all and Portia! So next time you have an event in L.A., NYC, Chicago, Paris, wherever, I will be there!

I've never done a Sniffapalooza or anything like that. I did go to Alyssa Harad's book reading here in Austin, which kind of counts. I hope someday to get to a Sniffa or something... it's hard when you have little kids.

I've never been to any such event, but I'd love to hop on a bus, drink a few mimosas and do some serious sniffing with you guys. Please don't edit the video!!

A sniff trip would be so much fun but given allergy and asthma issues, it just isn't in the cards. Scents are taken one at a time and in very mall doses. I looked at the pictures on Hypoluxe's blog (http://www.hypoluxe.com/blog.html) and spotted a few familiar faces. Can't wait to see the video!

Have never attended an event - the travel budget is limited - but would love to. And would adore seeing Portia's eyelash tips. Srsly. ADORE.

So jealous that you had Portia at your event! Hopefully she will be able to make it to a Sniffapalooza in NYC someday. I have attended a few Sniffas, and always have a good time. I love the swag, and getting to try the new fragrances. However, the best part is meeting and talking with people - fellow fragrance fanatics, bloggers, authors, and perfumers. Thanks for the drawing!

I've never been to a scent event but hope to sometime in the future!

I've never attended a perfume event, but would LOVE to! Paris anyone??? :-)

Can't help but notice that Chicago seems way out in front for a Perfume Event and I will chime in to agree with that. I'm sure the local media would love to cover something new & fun!

Oh, Patty! I was sooooo jealous of all you guys in LA doing the perfume rounds. I have never ever done a perfume event and would so love to! Living in the boonies of New England makes it a tad hard to even shop for perfume in person, most of my buying is done online, unsniffed! Thank god for perfume sample sites like Surrender to Chance. Anyone know what the perfume situation is in Boston? Is it worth the 4 hour trek for me? I'd be curious to hear anyone's experiences, especially with finding places that sell more niche or Indie perfumes.

Sounds like a lovely time was had by all. I would have loved to attent as this is a novel concept and sounds like a complete blast! Thank You kindly for the chance to experience some of the fun via a gift bag draw =)

never been, looking forward to it, someday.

Another thing I thought of, it was good to see the people with you were not wearing clothes which cost more than my car, lol. I suppose I had a little insecurity in that area, but these are all people I would like to get to know, and they all seemed to be having a great time.

Sounds absolutely fabulous. Unfortunately work prevented me from attending this time, but hopefully I'll be able to make the next one. Chicago would be fantastic!

I've never been to a perfume event, and it's a bit far from Norway to LA :) But I would love to go!

I would love to go to a scent event. If you do one in LA next year, I'm going! New York sounds ok, but the sun and the warmth sound really good, too. And, lets not forget about that little haven of scent in Portland, OR, which has more perfume lovers than I know in the entire state of Colorado. Plus Slumberhouse and some great perfume stores. Maybe we could ask perfumers where they would like to go. So, sounds as if Barney's doesn't need our business, that's good with me.

I've never been to a perfume event... which is why you should definitely host one in Boston! ;) I'm glad Scentsation went so well, I hope you all had a fabulous time. Can't wait to see these videos of Portia!

Sooooooooo jealous. I live in a small town and just recently got a nearby sephora. I have only sniffed in stores a few times, and never with a perfume lover, though my husband attempted to buddy up with me in the fun and offered up his real estate. I would love to meet everyone, including portia who rocks my world. Porting, you seem like someone that I would really bond with in real life. I really admire your enthusiasm and friendliness. Was musette there too? I want a detailed report. I want video!! Disd anyone discover a good way to test a lot of scents? How do you decide what to spray on? And what about reports on what you guys sniffed and loved? I've never been to am event like this, but if there was ever one in Atlanta i would drive the 5hrs to go for sure. I'm not sure that Atlanta would be as special though... Luckyscent and beauty habit are like meccas.

I would love to go to a perfume event, but ever since leaving LA in my teens, I've lived in tiny towns far from major cities. So I get lots of lovely nature and it's generally quite peaceful, but definitely no big shopping, and definitely no sniff-a-thons! This one looks like the most fun of all I've read reports on, so yeah, I'm jealous. Portia, your ensemble is exquisite! What style you have!

i think any city would be great. Please post more pictures and videos

I would love to attend a perfume event and sniff and sniff and sniff to my heart's content. I can only dream of sniffing niche scents or classics for that matter living as I am in a medium sized town. Yes, bring the Scentsation to Europe, I may be able to attend then!

Wow! This Scentsation seemed to be quite amazing!!! I never attended any perfume event even though I have met with perfumers individually.. Definitely Paris next time guys!

I would love to attend an event but the closest big city to me is NYC which is three hours away. It is not a bad drive but I wouldn't know where to find out about events like this. Any suggestions? Love this blog! Thanks!

Sounds like a hoot! Paris please for those of us across the pond. I know, I am dreaming...

I wish I could have been there! I have been to a perfume event which I felt was more for the benefit of the corporate sponsors than the attendees. Please enter me in the drawing. Thank you.

Hey Patty, What an excellent day we all had, INCREDIBLE!!! Tom Pease and I have been wandering Hollywood and found a couple of great places to have the Indie Perfumers set up their wares. There are a few really excellent choices and we already have spoken to a couple of the Indies who have expressed their eagerness to meet so many of the Posse who they sell to and interact with only online. I am so thankful that we did it and that it was such a rip roaribg success. Maybe we could do LA and Chicago a week apart next year? That would be INSANE!!! Portia xxxx

Arrrggg! I would haves loved to have been able to attend!!!! Dear dear son graduating had to take precedence. Do post more pictures and reminisce ! It sounds just perfect. Is there a place in the Midwest that would be a good host for such an event???? I'd sure go. Ahh to meet folks that get wanting to stop and smell every new thing that beckons! Y'all must have smelled glorious! Please do enter me in the drawing.

I'd love so much to go to such a gathering- unfortunately, I live in Israel, I can't even dream to attend. I really enjoy your stories, it's as close as I can get to you actually meeting the people at Posse would be such a fun...

Sounds like so much fun. Good to see people enjoyed it so much. I've never been to a perfume event. And unless I specifically get on a plane to go to one, it's not likely to happen any time soon. I would like to go to one of course. especially when everybody makes it sound so fantastic. Paris sounds like a good idea. :)

Oh, it sounds like you had the greatest time! I am happy for you all and a little envious ;)! I never had the chance to attent a perfume-themed-gathering... and would love to! But now I will focus on the goodie bag: one wish at the time!!!

Please enter me in the drawing! There's no way I could afford to go (barring a sudden win in Publishers Clearing House...which sadly didn't happen) But a sample grab baggie would at least be a taste.. Thanks for the draw .Glad everyone had a BLAST!

I would be willing to travel for a Posse event! I have yet to be able to attend a perfume event, but I hope to rectify that in the near future.

Oh my, I'm so envious of You all:)... I always wanted to go to our Hungarian community's perfume events, to Budapest or Vienna but I was always either pregnant and smell-averse, or having another tiny one beside me and didn't want to leave them alone for half a day:). Maybe next year. But they all sound like a huge fun. Not just the scents, but meeting fragrant friends IRL is one of the experiences I have yet to try:). Talking freely, out loud, to people who actually care, about the Guerlinade, or Giudicelli's Annam or broom notes and immortelle must feel like landing on the Moon:). (sigh) I'd also love to be entered in the giveaway.

It was, simply, wonderful. A HUGE thank you to the Posse from me; this was the most fun I've had in ages. The folks at Scent Bar were lovely and gracious, Beautyhabit welcomed us like a family reunion, and yes, I too could have done without the visit to Barney's. Gift bags? Impressive. Prizes? If you couldn't attend, you don't even want to know, it would make you so sad. Portia Turbo? Are there words? There are many, but two will suffice - FU%&@NG FANTASTIC. I've got a serous girl-boy crush. Patty, Anita, and March - you deserve some sort of medal for making so many people simultaneously and deliriously content. Portia, the world is simply a better place with you in it. I spent the entire day inhaling the most beautiful scents, I made some friends, laughed my head off, stuffed my face, blew my budget, and drove home filled with love and warm fuzzies. Heather, Tara, and Stacy - thanks for hanging out with me! Send an email my way at lisadarty at hot mail dot com. Oh, and I've already forgotten the name of one of my bus buddies - lovely blonde woman, from the LA area, you were contemplating Datura Noir at Barney's - send me an email; I've got a decant for you!

The only perfume event I've been to is the one at my desk at work with our secret-handshake group. Please come to Chicago! (Oh wait...you suggested Paris, didn't you...)

A girl can dream...looks like the best experience, glad you guys all enjoyed

It sounds wonderful. The perfumes, the comraderie, the chance to cheer for the lovely Portia, the chance to be sneered at in Barney's... Sorry I missed it all. I think the idea of meeting a bunch of indie perfumers in a central place s a great one, and LA again would be wonderful! Regrets that this year was not my year.

I would LOVE to attend a perfume event, I've never been to one before and it sounded like a lot of fun. I would definitely go to one if the timing were right. I wish I could have been there.

Paris would be fab!

I for one had a blast meeting the "Posse" at Lucky Scent's Scent Bar boutique on Beverly Boulevard. How fun to match faces with screen names. While I was there with presentation responsibilities of course in sharing news for Parfums Retro Grand Cuir and Parfums M. Micallef, I tried to keep it short and sweet and fun. Perfume grand prizes, yay! Considering it was early morning, the place was rocking. I put up a collection of 20-30 photo images for the Scent Bar portion of the day which you can grab from my @jeffdame twitter, or Jeffrey Dame facebook page, or the Hypoluxe company blog. Or not. Enjoy. I vote for Chicago next time - more people will be able to attend.

I would love to go to a perfume event, as I've never been. What about someplace like Atlanta? I'd much rather go to a Posse scent event than any other. Thanks for the report, looking forward to more stories, and thanks for the draw!

I'd love to see more pictures (and video). The whole event sounds like it was wonderful, and I'd love to share an entire weekend with people who share my passion for scent (my friends and family find my hobby slightly eccentric). LA is such a wonderful destination for fragrance lovers! Luckyscent and Beautyhabit are my two favorite sources for fragrances - I can't even imagine what it would be like to browse those shops in person! How wonderful, as well, to have such an organized event, so that out-of-towners can just get on a bus and be guided around by local perfume experts, rather than having to navigate a huge and unfamiliar big city to enjoy all of its sniffing opportunities! When I lived on the East Coast, I always wanted to go to a Sniffa, but the events always seemed to conflict with work travel. Although I lived relatively near some upscale department stores, I always relied primarily on swapping and purchasing online sample purchases to try new things (between the traffic and aggressive perfume counter employees, shopping was less than enjoyable). Now that I'm in Colorado, there are even fewer opportunities (aside from the very delightful and gifted Dawn Spencer Hurwitz's studio in Boulder), so online sampling is my lifeline. But hey, LA isn't *that* far from CO, so perhaps a future LA Scentsation event is in the cards for me. Paris would be the holy grail, of course, but I fear that I would blow my entire budget just getting there, and be unable to afford a single treasure to lovingly carry back home. Congratulations on what sounds like a wildly successful event. I'm sure you've got many of us already working out the math to get ourselves on the bus next year!

The LA Scentsation sounded like all kinds of fun, but unfortunately I have both cash flow issues and a tendency to develop a nasty headache if I smell more than three or four perfumes within a few hours time. However, I will endeavor to both increase my tolerance and save my pennies for the next So. Cal. event.

I've never been to a perfume event. Wish I could have attended L.A. Scentsation! How about heading just a bit further south next time and holding it in San Diego!

I would love to be entered in the drawing for the gift bag, though I would have loved attending and meeting everyone even more! Yes, please do it again next year. LA or Chicago sounds great to me! Glad it went well.

So bummed I missed it. Meeting Kilian 2 days before was little consolation :( I SO hope you do it again so I can join y'all! Hope it was a great time! My experience is that Barney's is a buzz kill regardless unless you are famous, young and rich. Being none of those things, they usually ignore me. A least Greengrass is good for a schmear...

I am so happy that everyone had a fabulous time. I'd love to meet Portia, in person, someday. And, since Chicago is only 8 hours away from me, I'll vote for Chicago next time. Paris would be fabulous but probably out of my budget to make that journey. I've never been to a perfume event. Well, I recently tried to find a new everyday, office sort of scent and took my significant other to every store in the metro that sold perfume and inhaled every single offering I hadn't previously sniffed. 127 some odd scents later, I came away with a purse that had 127 perfume-soaked cardstock strips in the side pocket and still smells like a true fracas. It was quite an event, especially for the significant other. Fortunately, a week or so later I found Chant de Bois at the Anthropologie in Charleston while I was visiting. While investigating the notes in that, I found Perfume Posse. That serendipitous event has made my life very happy the past couple of months. Thanks for all you do!

I haven't been to a perfume event but would love to: come to the Midwest! Chicago would be perfect!

I would have loved to have come, but had a college graduate that weekend which took precedence! Please do it again. Are singles welcome? Went to Sniffapalooza alone a couple of years ago and enjoyed, but felt like I was the only single there.

Oh, I'd love to, but never have.... I think you should hold the next one in Albuquerque! Heh, failing that, LA isn't THAT far from New Mexico :D - I'm normally rather introverted but would certainly enjoy the opportunity to experience the perfume community on such an intense level.

The only "perfume event" I had been to was for the U.S. launch of Olfactive Studio at an art gallery in NYC in April. Small space, big crowd, not a great mix; however, the perfumes were front and center and the munchings were quite good. I think being with many perfumistas in one place would overwhelm me... as much as I am an extrovert, when it comes to something as personal as perfume, I prefer to be the solo focus of a sales assistant and this is also why I would go out of my way to shop at Barneys, Bergdorfs and Henri Bendel eventhough Saks is much much closer. It's a shame that Barneys did not treat the Posse better!

Wow, I'd love to take off to an event like this! Bit hard for me living all the way down here in Sydney with 2 small kids and studying full time! Ah maybe one day, sounds like you had great fun :)

Oh, I'd love to come to a Scentsation. Maybe I can make it next year - LA is convenient but wouldn't Paris be incredible? Would love to see the video, filthy language and all. xx

Tell us more about the L.A. perfume trip. More photos, too. I would've liked to join all of you, but my disposable income is going into home repairs, really no-fun stuff like electrical for instance. So please, let me live vicariously through all of you who went on the sniffing excursion.

Well I almost cried when I had to cancel at the last second, I hope you do it again!

Wow, it sounds like you all had a wonderful time! Wish I could have teleported over to the west coast for the weekend and joined you. I've been to local sniffas a while back at Art with Flowers, a local independent perfume/gift shop in Tysons Galleria in Northern Virginia. Sadly, they are in the business of closing up shop. Don't know where I'll go now to sniff indie and niche lines. I'd love to try and make it to a perfume event some year. Maybe the NYC one since it's on the east coast. I'd love for there to be one closer, like here in the Mid-Atlantic area. Thanks for entering me in the drawing.

I'm am so sorry I missed this, but I had previous commitments. I would have loved to meet the fabulous Portia Turbo in person. Please do post any videos you may have, I love Portia's great sense of humor! I've been to the SF Sniff and would love to attend more. So glad everyone had a great time.

I went to one in Sept, and came away with mad love for the few people I managed to bond with, and eye-rolling irritation at the corporatization/ambition of the organizers, etc. I would LOVE to come to an LA Posse event -- and would have, but Book Jail beckoned this time...