When it comes to selling partially-used full-sized bottles of perfume, fragrance lovers often employ a distinctive strategy to set their prices. This involves calculating the cost per milliliter based on the initial price of the bottle, allowing sellers to fairly price the remaining fragrance. For instance, if a 50ml bottle originally retails for $150, that equates to $3 per milliliter. Therefore, if someone is offering a 25ml partial bottle, a price of $75 would be reasonable.
May K. Kanti, the visionary behind the “DC Maryland Virginia Fragrance Lovers” Facebook group, is not just a family therapist; she’s also deeply passionate about fragrances, having invested a significant $1,000 to $3,000 into her personal collection over the years. Within her community of 137 members, individuals frequently seek advice on perfumes they wish to sell. The group serves as a valuable resource for sharing insights, exchanging preferences, decluttering collections, and swapping fragrances to help members curate scents that genuinely resonate with their personal style.
In an age where abundance is often glorified, beauty editor Alexandra Pauly of Highsnobiety and a fellow fragrance enthusiast argues that amassing a collection of 200 bottles isn’t essential. Recently, she coordinated a fragrance swap event in collaboration with the podcasts Perfume Room Pod and Fat Mascara, as well as the perfume photography initiative Basenote Bitch, hosted at Susan Alexandra’s boutique. Pauly highlights that the obsession with collecting fragrances has contributed to overconsumption within the fragrance community.
She believes that participating in fragrance swaps encourages more thoughtful purchasing decisions and makes the world of perfumes more accessible to everyone. Sustainability is becoming a pressing issue as well, since fragrances can deteriorate and lose their original scent over time, rendering them less desirable. Kanti, who owns about 40 bottles, views her collection as modest compared to others. She acknowledges that managing a collection of 150 or more bottles can be daunting and impractical.
The fragrance hobby often entails experimenting with various scents, some of which may not align with one’s preferences. Beyond virtual swaps held throughout the year, Kanti also organizes in-person meetups three times annually. During these events, her group members engage in swapping, selling, splitting, and decanting fragrances they no longer wish to keep. This practice not only aids in decluttering but also allows fragrance aficionados to discover new scents without the commitment of purchasing full bottles.
