Drastic scent preferences change

#question

Preface: Ive always loved perfume. I had a small but decent collection in highschool of about 6 different smells all in the same-ish family. College got a bit sweeter and then in the decade since my preference has changed almost every year. Last year I went back to gourmands and discovered I liked vanillas. This year I reach for something o loved in the same season last year and it’s not enjoyable anymore. I’m supposed this is happening again considering I’ve been actively sniffing, trying a lot of perfumes over the last 3 years (my obsession comes and goes in waves).

Question: Has anyone else had this happen in the middle of their collecting/smelling journey? If so, is it worth hanging on to bottles that don’t have a scent memory but I used to love to see if I come back around?

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Comments8

DGS@leatherfriction

2 months ago

My preferences have changed a lot over the years, but I know there were two major contributing factors. The first being I moved from the northeast US to SoCal and what I previously wore just doesn’t work here because of the climate, and the second (as a result of the first), I branched out and opened myself up to things I didn’t care to try before. As the years have gone on, I’ve simultaneously become more open minded while also being more discerning in my taste, so some old fragrances aren’t hitting like they used to.

Becs@freeday
2 months ago
Yeah that makes sense. I’m in the same place as last year but I think maybe I’ve Donetsk same and I’ve tried more things that I didn’t traditionally like and my tastes have expanded. For example I don’t mind musks anymore. Maybe I should revisit leather and Oud now….
DGS@leatherfriction
2 months ago
Replying to @freeday
That’s funny, I wore a lot of dark ouds, smoky leather, boozy, tobaccoy woods, etc. and now I’m open to florally citruses and the occasional lactonic note, haha. Bodies are weird, aging is weird, it’s all weird, haha. What were you mostly wearing before?
Becs@freeday
2 months ago
Replying to @leatherfriction
Hah! We’re opposites. Mmm last year I was wearing a lot more gourmands and neroli and I’ve since decluttered almost all of the ones I loved because it’s too sickly sweet and cloying on me. I do also have a small collection of tea scents that I still love though.

MariSmells@mehsmells

2 months ago

Oh definitely! My first likes were more citrus sparkly, then my 20s were more heavy/dark (think Armani Code 😅), floral/herby in my 30s, and now I'm in a floral/sweet/woody kick in my 40s.

Becs@freeday
2 months ago
Glad I’m not the only one!

STate@s_tate

2 months ago

Weirdly, when I started taking glp1, my preferences changed a lot. I went from only wanting woody scents to loving vanillas (less sweet ones, atm) and I'm now starting to like more florals. My strategy is to set aside the ones I think I don't care for anymore and revisit the next time the season for them rolls around. If I still don't care for them at that point, I'll probably try to find them another home.