Hey Hey Posse, Righto, here we are and February is finished so Decant Demolition 2025 continues apace.
Decant Demolition 2025 February
My Challenge
For Decant Demolition 2025 I’ll be trying to drain 30ml of juice every month. In any configuration from 15 x 2ml to a 30ml? of decanted perfume into a spray receptacle 2ml or more. They must also be finished by ME! No giving stuff away. Although Random Acts Of Kindness are encouraged they do not count for my DD2025.
Your Challenge
Play along. Use up some decants/samples/bottles. Pass those unloved extras on to others or leave them in your workplace bathroom for people to take.
Also, in the interest of driving fragrant discussion and your own thunking there must be 40 comments that are not mine. Yes, you read it correctly. 40 comments, and not lazy, spammy bumps like an OK or Got It. It must be a pertinent comment to the discussion at hand. You can answer someone else’s comment. Ask them a question about their comment. Add your own thunks, thoughts on my thunks. Tell us a story about something fragrant that links with previous comments or the post. The secondary (but most important) goal of Decant Demolition 2025 is to reanimate perfumista conversation and engagement.
Should I make 30ml and there be 40 comments that comply. I will give away a US$50 Surrender To Chance Gift Voucher each month.
I hope you’re as excited about Decant Demolition 2025 as I am.
In January we hit the mark:
WINNER : Hamamelis
Please send me a message
portia (underscore) turbo (at) yahoo (dot) com (dot) au
Decant Demolition February Empties
Ma Folie de Noel by Dawn Spencer Hurwitz 10ml
SO SAD to have finished this gorgeous Christmas themed beauty. I’ve been eeking it out over the last couple of years but was worried that the last ml might dry out if I left it to next Christmas. Ma Folie de Noel is a gorgeous blend of bakery, spices, woods, resins and a huge chunk of ginger. If only Dawn could send bottles of EdT/P overseas, I’d be a lot poorer in money but richer in brilliant perfumes.
Spice Blend by DIOR 10ml
I remember Spice Blend being a complete flop and so many perfumistas dissed it. Well, this 10ml inspired me to jump on a bottle and I’m glad I did because it seems to have disappeared from Australian stores. Ginger, cinnamon, cloves, rum and bay play lead with a wealth of back up. Sure, it’s no super groundbreaker but it reminds me of those heavenly spicy mens perfumes from the 1970-80s that we just aren’t offered anymore.
Tabac Rouge by Phaedon Perfumes 10ml
Bought this decant from RuthK the perfume fairy years ago. There have been a couple of ml left for a while and I do have a bottle awaiting its demise. Wearing this gorgeous OTT sticky honeyed tobacco and smoky resins perfume in Sydney high summer has been super fun. You might remember that this was the Best Seller of the range and everyone was going batshit crazy for it? Me too.
WOO HOO! 30ml done and dusted. Had so much fun wearing these traditionally winter perfumes in the crazy heat of Sydney summer. Are any of the perfumes or houses favourites of yours?
Portia xx
Finished samples of Chanel 1959 and Sycomore. Then I found a sample of etat libre d’orange dangerous complicity. I fear I want a bottle of this – it’s quiet and close to the skin on me, pretty in a comforting way and quite undramatic. I like that it hovers just under the radar. I’m reading base notes and I think I’m drawn to the quiet spice and osmanthus.
Hiya Ellen,
How exciting to find a new love in the ELdO range. They do some lovely stuff.
Portia xx
Epic fail on finishing or thunking anything, BUT had fun and enjoyed my samples. I’m not generally into dupe houses. (No shade on those who are!) Niche4All would be such a house, though they intentionally amp up one aspect of the perfume, sort of like a good cover artist. Anywhoo, I’ve played with those samples. They are hard to THUNK because they are so strong! Two or three spritzes from the tiny sample sprayer can clear a room.
I tried their Caramel Passion (a Xerjoff Tony Iommi tribute), and outside walking the dogs I choked myself out! It was huge smoke and leather but crossed with sweet florals and caramel. Huge! Hours later it died down to a smolder, and was nice. Whew! I wonder if the original is like that? Do you find many perfumes to be too strong? I think I do, but I’m a chronic undersprayer.
Here’s wishing you all good smells (and no choke outs!) Be well.
Hey there HemlockSillage,
I often find the dupes to be enormous beast mode versions that are incredibly overwhelming for the first hour or two.
I’m a chronic oversprayer and sometimes find myself choking out on my way to a gig and have to get the car windows open and some serious recalibrating of the air.
Portia xx
Chuffed pink with winning! Thank you very much again Portia. Still smelling my way through my collection, recently all my Vero’s, they are wonderful. Moved on to April Aromatics, some of them really fit springtime the season on the Northern Hemisphere.
Here in Europe we are very unsettled, as I am sure you can understand. Beauty in whatever form helps. Victoria on BdJ wrote about this, and if you wish to help her country she suggests several ways how.
Yes! So happy for you Hamamelis.
Enjoy your spring ramble through the collection.
We will be up in Europe in a couple of weeks. It will be interesting to see if we tourists feel the difference. Victoria ia amazing.
Portia xx
Where will you be in Europe?
We are in Paris for a few nights before jumping over to Morocco to do a tour. I’m very excited.
I’m very much enjoying reading everyone’s comments. I used up a few samples, but I bought more from Luckyscent, so I’m not exactly reducing the numbers. I emptied six, some of which I’ve had for years:
Parfum de Nicholai – Bois Belize
Dior – Tobacolor
Serge Lutens – Le Proie Pour L’Ombre
Zoologist – Sacred Scarab
Jovoy – La Liturgie des Heures
Guerlain – Santal Royal
I bought a bottle of the Serge Lutens, I had found it for a good price, but still way more than I was prepared to risk buying it unsniffed. I hastily ordered a sample from Surrender to Chance, and loved it, so I pounced.
Does anyone else think that Tobacolor is a lot like Bond No 9’s Chinatown, or is it just me??
What a fabulous thunk list Gaynor,
Le Proie Pour L’Ombre sounds divine. I’m scared of those bottles though. Very easy to knock over and I’m so clumsy.
Tobacolor is really nice but I’m yet to spring for a bottle. Now that they’ve changed their sizes I’m a bit furious. It will change the clean look of them lined up. GRRRR!
Portia xx
The bottle worries me too, it’s my first purchase in the tall bottle and it’s every bit as vulnerable as it looks in photos – it’s in its box, lying flat in a cupboard. I will transfer some to a travel spray to reduce the opportunity of an accident.
That’s such a good idea Gaynor.
I haven’t thunked anything but am really enjoying reading the comments! My sniffer isn’t working so great at the moment but I am for sure enjoying reading your progress. I did smell some truly AWFUL things at Target today, hoping for a cheap-and-cheerful topic for a future post. Those things will not be it!
PLEASE!!! Write the TRULY AWFUL TARGET MONSTROSITIES post March.
Come ON! We all need a laugh.
Portia xx
Yep!!! DO IT!!!!
Oh, that would be different. Portia’s right, it could be very funny and a lot of fun!
I have written I HATED THIS posts before … maybe it’s time to break Mr. Yuck out again!
I third that! If you tell me which ones were truly awful I’ll do it with you! Imagine the levels of snark we can stoop to!,
You’re on!
Portia,
Wanted to tell you one of the reasons your Thursday posts are so endearing is because you acknowledge everyone who comments in the sweetest and most positive way.
Always makes me wanna sing, “You Are My Sunshine.” You and your column are a real beacon in an uncertain world. Thank you.
What a lovely thing to say!
And SO true!!!!
LOVE you Musette. XX
MxCrz,
WOW! You know how to make a guy’s heart sing. Also, thanks for the earworm. I’ll be singing that for the next week and think of you.
If all that I do in this life is lift people’s spirits then it’s a life well lived.
HUG
Portia xx
Lifting people’s spirits is a mighty thing!
Agreed Hamamelis. Needed now more than ever in our lifetimes.
Yes!
I finished the 150(!)ml bottle of Eau Parfumee au The Bleu, and am feeling quite pleased with myself. Goodness that took a while, despite being on of the perfumes I wore all the time during lockdown. I do have a backup, but will wait a bit to break it out.
WOW AnnieA! That’s bloody amazing.
Congratulations.
Portia xx
I had to check if I tried Tabac Rouge, but no, it was Rouge Avignon and a few others. Rouge Avignon has raspberry-rose. That was when I learned that I do not like that combo. I will give Tabac Rouge. It sounds good and has honey in it. I can also pass it on – whether it works for me or not – to a non-perfumista friend who loves honey in perfume.
Hi Maya,
I remember Rouge Avignon too. Bummer that combo doesn’t fit for you.
Tabac Rouge could well be a much better idea.
Portia xx
I’m so impressed with your success! I’m on the road right now but will try to do more thunking myself when I get home.
Safe travels OH.
Portia xx
I love Ma Folie de Noel and have an oil version. I get soft spice but especially anise and licorice in a very classy and beautiful blend. Thanks for reminding me to dig it out! Also, we are visiting friends in Colorado so I am going to make it a point to stop into Dawn’s Essence Studio for a chat and a sampling session. She is a lovely person.
I did clean out a few almost empty samples but don’t even remember what they were. I organized some decants and left a few no-longer-wanted bottles in the women’s bathroom at our local library branch with a little stickie saying “please take me.”
OMG! Spring Pansy, can you please send Dawn all my love and gratitude for her fabulous collection.
I’m so happy for you and full of FOMO.
LOVE that you left some unwanted for others. RAOK is good karma.
Portia xx
Sure – I will let her know.Wish you could join me!
Yeah, mutual.
One day we will spend time with Dawn in her magic making machine. Enjoy every minute.
Portia xx
I’ve tried a few of DSH perfumes but not Ma Folie de Noel – sounds lovely. I’ve only managed to get through 3 samples…..Bianca Latte which I like but alas already have some favorite vanillas. Also tried Angel Powder which on me was sickly sweet and headache inducing….definitely no….top note on that one is listed as nail polish….not a scent I would ever seek out. I also finished a small sample of Heaven can Wait – it is very nice and easy to wear.
OOOOHHHH! A triple thunk Lemoncake! Congratulations.
Always nice to have only one you like.
Portia x
The hubs loves some bay rum, and I’ve been trying to upgrade his game. Need to see if Dior Spice Blend is available and doesn’t cost the earth. Open to other suggestions!
Hey Tara+Mc, Dior Spice Blend costs the earth and various other planets. There are better choices.
For a simple, fabulous, spicy cheap try Boucheron Jaipur
Portia xx
That DSH has been on my try list for a while but as so many new get added all the time it seems I never work my way through to the older ones. This month I was only able to thunk one item, which is a travel spray that I have shuttled along for years in my luggage, Jo Malone Yuja.
YAY for a thunk AnnieA.
Oh yes, DSH makes a lot of fab new stuff every year. it’s hard to keep up, let alone hit back catalogue.
Portia xx
Thunking about 2-3 one ml samples per week primarily from BPAL or Possets. None of them so far are making me want to go out and buy full bottles. At the moment working on thunking à slightly larger sample of Solstice Scents White Feather, which I should be done with in another day. I probably have 1,000+ small samples/decants so I’m trying to remember to wear to bed as well to get through them faster. Gave away à nearly full bottle of Sienna L’Hiver after spraying myself pretty heartily with it and deciding it just wasn’t doing that much for me. Trying to keep new perfume from coming into the house but I’ve had some health challenges recently so bought a few 5ml bottles of oil perfume from Nui Cobalt Designs that have healing intentions mixed into them (and that smell divine). Despite living in Santa Fe, I’m not particularly “woo” but I have experienced the magic of Forest’s Nui Cobalt Design perfumes and reached out to her for suggestions. They are about to go into heavy rotation.
OOOHHH Carolyn! These sound fabulous. Scent is a real mood changer and I’m sure that they are also good as a healing balm in times of stress and trouble.
Sending you good intentions to match them and hope that you have best possible health outcomes with whatever medicines are being diagnosed.
HUG
Portia x
Wishing you all the best on the health front.
I managed to divest the remainder of a Replica Lazy Sunday Morning sample. That’s me done. It’s quite nice, very wearable. Very lazy Sunday morning …
HA! Glad to read you thunked.
I do love a lazy Sunday morning Cinnamon. Never tried the perfume though.
Portia xx
It’s lovely, Portia- and much as cinnamon describes it!
Thanks….
More to the list.
I spent Sunday mindfully doing a sample/decant/mini/ travel perfumes inventory. I’ve created a “use it or lose it” tray of stuff to use before the scent gods claim it.
DH in hospital so I can wear them at the minute. Need to wash off before visiting but each cloud has a silver lining.
I find scents to be very comforting during stressful times, and I hope yours are helping. Praying for healing, comfort, and peace for you and yours.
Thank you
Hey Alityke,
Glad you are wearing the fragrances when you get a chance. That’s a pretty good silver lining.
Hope DH is doing fine as can be hoped.
Portia xx
Thank you
How are YOU doing?
I’m hanging in there. I’m a realist, I know what the future holds.
We are here for you.
You and DH are in my thoughts..
You and DH are in my thoughts, alityke
My thoughts are with you.
Wishing you strength alityke.
Impressive demolition! Was Tabac Rouge hype about ten years ago? I remember liking it a lot, but not enough for a full bottle. Your post actually reminded me that I have a bottle of Rue des Lilas (Phaedon) somewhere, which would be perfect for faking springtime.
I emptied two samples in February:
Santa Subita (Technique Indiscrete): Vintage Vol de Nuit with incense. Want!
Madagascan Jasmine (Grandiflora): Crisp flower shop& swoony jasmin. Beautiful!
and…drumrolll… finished the last 15ml of my Vaniglia del Madagascar (Farmacia SS Annunziata) bottle.
Hey Finanna,
Tabac Rouge came out 2013, so yeah. It was just over 10 years that the hype train went big.
WOO HOO on your thunks, particularly the 15ml. WOW!
Madagascan Jasmine is my most worn from the Grandiflora range. Love it.
Portia xx
I love DSH- the site says they ship internationally from their Etsy site- does that not include Australia?
Heya Tom,
They can only send oils to Oz. While they are still very nice I prefer the lift that alcohol brings.
Portia xx
Ask Dawn if there’s a DYI solution to make the oils a spray?
Honestly between stupid regulations on either ends and these stupid new Tariffs those Cartels would almost make more money with less hassle sending perfume over the borders than they would with drugs..
🙂 love it!
HA! Probably true Tom
I know I’d like walking down Santa Monica Blvd a lot more of sited of Mary Jane it smelled of Chanel No. 5..
I almost finished a small rollerball of Flors Mortis from Rouge Perfumery this month. But I gave away a full bottle of Jasmine of Athens. I found that it was way too much generic vanilla and 2 minutes of jasmine. It had the potential to bee something good but wasn’t but my friend loves Jasmine of Athens so it wasn’t a total waste. Flos Mortis is a fabulous, slutty tuberose and full bottle worthy.
OOOO Eldarwen22! Flos Mortis sounds divine..
Boo that the JoA didn’t work for you buy YAY for passing it to som one happy with it.
Portia xx