As you all probably know by now, EBP isn’t 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 it was coined by lovely Posse reader AnnieA, commenting on one of my posts several years ago. It’s something a lot of us probably do without even thinking about it: We apply a scent at home, then put the spray or vial or mini bottle into to-go mode and head out the door. And after a busy day or week — or in my case, sometime even months ? — we forget to take them all back out again.
Now that we (at least some of us) are deep into the dead of winter, it’s time to share our current EBP sniffages. (Not sure that’s even a word, but …).
As for me and my EBPs, I’ve been trying out Tom Ford’s Vanille Fatale (really liking it, but only have a spray, and am eager to try it dabbed), warming up with Guerlain’s Encens Mythique and Aerin Lauder’s Tangier Vanille, and layering and playing around with my vials of vanillas and Le Labos. And from the response from a recent post and all the love it got, I’m revisiting some Chanel No. 5. Not really a fan of it much, but do enjoy the Eau Premiere, my little dab o’ vintage parfum, and the newest one, L’Eau. And if the cold weather continues, I’ll be pulling out my Coromandel and Coco as well.
What about you? Do have a peek at the bottoms of your purses, backpacks, briefcases, etc., and share your emergency backup perfume: What vials, decants, bottles, etc., are rolling around in there?
And, as always, a word of caution: I try to keep my EBP items in a plastic zip-top baggie (a plastic-lined makeup bag would do nicely) in a feeble attempt at organization, but also mostly because I’m deathly afraid of leakage. Having once had the lining of a handbag stained this way, I’m not eager for a repeat performance. And it is nice to have your scent choices all together and see them at a glance, instead of spread out all loosey-goosey in the bottom of your purse, which is what I used to do, before said accident.
Have a great week, everyone, and stay warm (or cool, as the case may be)!
I keep J’Adore in my gym bag. My purse usually has new samples I’m learning about so I can keep dabbing to experience the perfume. In my makeup bag in purse, I’ve had a decant of Guerlain Apres L’Ondee and vintage Cartier Panthere.
Fun article. My EBP is my old faithful Gap Close. A 3.4 oz bottle stays in the bottom of my gym bag, which I bring with me every day. It is great for “Oops, I forgot perfume this morning” days, or “Wow, I got sweatier than I expected at the gym” days. Perfect EBP because it is cheap (although long dc’ed) smells good anywhere/everywhere, and always lifts my mood.
I don’t carry EBPs because perfume lasts all day on my skin, sometimes more than a day if I’m wearing FM Portrait of A Lady. We haven’t had much of a winter here in NorCal. Not very cold at all and very little rain and I am dreading water rationing again this summer. On the few days where it got moderately cold I wore FM PoAL, TF Tobacco Vanille, Hermes L’Ambre des Merveilles, Parfum d’Empire Azemour Les Orangers and Amouage Jubilation 25 extrait (dabbed). I feel like it hasn’t been cold enough to wear my vintage Opium. Sigh. Wish the weather wasn’t so wonky worldwide.
I go tired of carrying large purses and burdening my right shoulder. So I paired down and started carry a much smaller purse with only a few essentials besides my little wallet and sunglasses. I keep a few tiny 1 ml samples in my purse and also one travel spray. But I would have to say that my EPB perfume is a one-third filled bottle of the original Prada’s Fusion d’Iris, which I keep in my desk drawer at work.
I don’t carry any perfume in my purse, since I’m retired and am home a lot. I spritz lavishly before I go out and refresh at will. Today I enjoyed TF Amber Absolute and will be spritzing on some Au Coeur du Désert before meditation class tonight. I love Encens Mythique, Coromandel, Borneo, the CdG incense series and Cuir Beluga this time of year.
I usually carry my latest 2ml spray sample from Surrender to Chance, or my Penhaligon’s refillable atomizer with Endymion. Love the 2ml samples! I use a heavy 8 X 8 cm anti-static plastic bag with a zip closure to prevent leakage.
I always carry a rollerball or two of Pacifica fragrances in my purse, right now it is Malibu Lemon and Tuscan Blood Orange. I also keep D&G The One and Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin at my desk at work in case of emergencies. I figure that if any get lost/broken/stolen, I’m not out $$ and so far so good!
Right now, Cuir Beluga, Cuir de Lancome, Vol de Nuit, and a terrific little sample I’m wearing out of Safran Troublant — how did I miss this one?
Funny you should post this today – I was thinking of you and the EBP as I was rummaging in my makeup bag whilst driving (that is one of those one-handed things that always makes me think about what a wonder our brains are – that you can steer with your left hand and keep your eyes on the road while running your hands over X in the bag, realizing that the ‘thick’ X is your glorious little decant of 2008 No5 (and while you are recognizing it, your brain takes you back to the delight you felt upon first sniff, who you got it from, etc) and the thin little vial is the vintage Arpege extrait from Surrender to Chance. And the little 2ml spray is 1932. All this while never actually looking at them.
But. omg. I am BO-RING! Because these are the very same EBPs that were in the last time you asked – and they will, no doubt, be the very same EBPs if you ask in 6mos time.
xoxoxo
Am I alone in not ever carrying an EBP? Not that I don’t have hundreds of samples, roller balls or whatever I could put in there. I do always have some kind of fragrant hand cream in there…. right now l’occitaine almond.
Hey Ann,
Currently the only fragrant thing in my Messenger Bag is a Crabtree & Evelyn Lavender Hand Cream. I emptied everything out last week. Before that I have a couple of decants Rose 31 and Neroli Outrenoir. So not much. sorry to disappoint.
Portia xx
Oh my gosh. I just cart a lot of my little sample vials around cause I’m never sure what I’ll feel like wearing til I’m driving to work! I kept them in a baggie too but recently discovered an empty sucrets box in my locker and that’s working out nicely for storage. Tam Dao, SL Bois Oriental, Cafe Tuberosa and Songes to name a few plus my rollerball of Chloe Roses are always at hand.
Vintage Bal has a permanent spot in my purse. Right now, I have Lyric and Theorema floating around in my purse. I just found some L’Heure Blue extrait in my purse, hiding in a corner. Those dabbers can be so sneaky.