Puredistance M and Antonia Giveaway to 5 Readers

Giveaway: The Austrian niche brand Puredistance would like to give away 5 sets of samples of their fragrances, M and Antonia to 5 Bois de Jasmin readers. Each winner will receive 2 samples, one of each fragrance.

How it works: Please leave a comment answering a question "Do you ever buy perfume without testing it first? Any successes/regrets, if you have done so?" Each participant will be assigned a number, and 5 winners will be selected via a random number generator. Draw is closed. Please check back over the weekend to learn if you won.

Giveaway explanation: anybody from the US or overseas can enter it as long as you answer specific questions explained in the contest rules.

Comments

[RH]

I've been wanting to try this line for a while...! I hope I'm lucky!

I never buy fragrance without testing it first- it's way too risky and I can't imagine having a whole bottle of something I don't love!

[Nereis]

I've only bought vintage perfumes blind, and results were mostly good, even the ones I loathed doesn't seem too bad after a while. I guess my nose grows to perfumes. The only bottle I ended up giving away was a bottle of Ma Griffe PdT which felt harsh, much harsher than anything else I've smelled at the time, and I really wonder how it would smell to me now.

[Helle]

I try not to buy blind, but like Nereis above I sometimes can't resist bying well-priced vintage scents unsniffed. It's hit and miss though, and I've had a few regrets where the money would have been better spent on samples. But you never know. I've had a vintage Femme EdC for about a year, that I just "got" this weekend, so now I'm happy I spent the 8 Euros she cost me.

[rosarita]

Fun! I only buy blind on the cheap. Successes include Histoire d'Eau Mauboussin & Roberto Cavalli Oro (TJ Maxx clearance). Misses include Sexual by Michel Germaine which got lots of positive buzz on MUA & is now up for swap; it was a headache at first sniff.

[Melanie]

I have bought quite a few perfumes without testing, but only if they are very inexpensive. Two of my favorites have been Guerlain L'instant Magic and MaxMara, which were deeply discounted at TJ Maxx. My biggest regret was Balmain Ivoire. I read many reviews on it and thought I would love it, but it is the one perfume I've tried that makes me nauseous.

[tara]

I've made 4 unsniffed purchases that I can think of, but (like others) only because they were inexpensive. No real regrets though I try to resist doing it. The biggest success was Cuir de Lancome which I just adore. Would love to try the Puredistance scents, thanks for hosting the drawing.

[Alexander Greene]

All the time, but none have ever really worked out. Dans tes Bras was impulse bought and I love it, but hardly ever wear it. I wonder, though, how many purchases end up becoming favourites even when not blind sniffed. I have many bottles I love in theory, but not in practice...

[Austenfan]

I have bought a lot unsniffed, and it has been successful except for the odd bottle. One of the fragrances I still can't grow to like is Le Dix, Balenciaga. I need to swap it sometime. Most of my Goutals have been bought unsniffed and I love them all, and more importantly wear them all.
Nicolaï and Goutal I can buy unsniffed. Lutens not. Those I do need to try first.

[yassna]

I used to do it, but after a few dissapointments I stopped. And the greatest of them was Tocade by Rochas. After Turins enthusiastic reviews I was really expecting much - too much, as it occured :)

[karin]

Ohhhhhh yesssss. Many unsniffed purchases that haven't worked. In fact, I'd say there's about a 10% success rate. Not because the fragrances have been "bad" per se, but they've been meh. The 10% that worked? Anything Nicolai...

Thanks for the draw offer! Anxious to try M after reading Tom's review on the Posse yesterday. :-)

[erda]

Like Yassna, I used to, in my early and avid perfumaholic days, with Luca Turin's old original guide at my side. Alas, our tastes didn't always overlap. Mauboussin's Histoire d'Eau (sorry Rosarita!) was a notable failure. But I also bought (without LT's guidance) Annayake Miyako unsniffed and really enjoyed it.

These days (maybe because of the insane proliferation of releases) I sniff first, often several times before buying. I want my perfume collection to be an intimate circle of close friends rather than a wide range of interesting acquaintance.

[Marie]

I often buy perfumes unsniffed. I live in Denmark and we don't have as great a selection as in some other countries.

I have most often been succesful - I bought Bulgari Black unsniffed, but on recommendation, and I like it very much.

I haven't had any dislikes so far, but I was a bit disappointed in Tocade - not that I don't like it, but the drydown is a bit banal, on me at least.

I will buy unsniffed again - I'm waiting for one at the moment, Matthew Williamson Incense - and there will bet others :-)

[k-scott]

I have bought 2 unsniffed-- Caron Aimez Moi and Kenzo Flower. Still waiting for them in the mail, so nut sure if they will be a success or an abject failure! Couldn't resist the bargain prices.

Thanks for another great giveaway!

[MK]

Yep, I've bought a few blind. The ones I can remember were pretty safe though - New Haarlem and Bulgari Black...I really like both of them!

[Nancy A]

I've not bought too many without trying first, but was given a gift of Quelques Fleur years ago and whenever I wear it, always get compliments. Maybe I should have that gifter be my own private perfumer!

[Irina]

Never. Mostly I stop at testing it. :) Usually I buy small vials, 1-3 ml, and try them at different seasons, in different situations, and usually finish with buying 1-2 out of 10 samples.

[you smell!!!]

I bought a few blind, and my success rate is pretty high, only a couple of things I didn't like, but it was easy to get rid of them.
I heard a lot of good things about Puredistance and I'd love to try them. Thanks!

[Connie]

What a nice giveaway. I've been curious about this line and would love to try some samples.

Oh yes, I've been known to purchase unsniffed based on reviews, etc. I've (mostly) had good experiences but there have been many that I haven't "gotten" yet, and maybe never will. Lou Lou comes to mind, as well as Ines ... they're not terrible--just not me. However, Aimez-moi and Cuir de Lancome were both purchased unsniffed and I love them. Thank you for including me in the draw!

[Isa]

I have only bought a fragrance unsniffed: Demeter Wet Garden. Well, in fact I didn't buy it but I asked my aunt and my uncle to buy it for me because they go three times a year to USA. I can't buy nor try Demeter in Spain.
I had read many reviews so it was more or less what I expected. I like it :)

Apart from that, I have never bought any unsniffed perfume. I usually try them on my skin several times before buying.

Thanks for the drawing!

[Barbara]

I never buy without trying it first. Some disappear on me so quickly that I would never want to buy something that didn't last.

[maureenC]

I have bought many bottles of fragrance unsniffed. Most of them I can live with, but have had only one major disappointment - L'air du Temps - just does not work with my chemistry.

[pam]

I have made many blind buys. I base them on reviews and comments in books and on the blogs. So far I have only a couple that I regret. Part of this is due to the fact that my selections are more limited in my town than in a major city, and if a discounter has a bottle of something I have been looking for, it may be sealed. So I risk it!

Please enter me in the draw. Would love to try their fragrances!

[d3m0licion]

Sometimes I buy without trying and if they are cheapies from Marshalls or TJMaxx I usually give them away and if they are niches I sell them on ebay or basenotes, some that I bought blind and didn't like them were Amouage Jubilation XXV, Serge Lutens Mandarine Mandarin and Un Bois Sepia but it was really easy to sell them and get rid of them.

[Zazie]

No, sometimes I've been very tempted (tubereuse criminelle, bois de violette, cuir mauresque - don' know how many times I browsed SL site... not to mention Luckyscent with its display of various Homage, tribute, ...), but never caved in.
I'm glad I didn't: most Lemmings turned out to be scrubbers, or over-priced, over-hyped fragrance dwarfs on my skin!
On a side note, though I make a rule to thoroughlly test a fragrance before buying, I've made a few impulse buys during the years...
I am sad to say I've regretted them all, except one (ninfeo mio)...
I know I never have to trust my istinct, perfume-wise! :(

[Maria]

It happened only once, with a Caron Bellodgia. I wanted that one. But I don't know what went wrong there, it just didn't work on me. I could admire it but not wear it. And since then I just don't buy anything without testing it.
Many niche houses understood this need of actual market, to test the perfumes and came with samples offers, which is great. I bought so many perfumes based on these samples. I will always pay for samples. It just makes sense, the market is so full with so many perfumes.

[Grusheczka]

Oh, I've purchased many fragrances unsniffed - and while I liked many, I only loved very few. Great example of that is the PG line. I love and wear only Coze and Ylang Ivohibe but can't wear so many I've gotten, like Bois de Copaiba (even though I like it! I just find it too heavy). I recently had great success with Saffron James' Nani, and even though I tend not to be a floral lover, I've fallen hard for this one.

[Lorelie]

Oh, I have some stories about my 'unsniffed' purchases, usually it's impulse buying. However, it hasn't all been negative because these unsniffed scents taught me lessons about the notes I dislike and that don't wear me well. It's also usually fairly easy to swap them out for something I do like.

[Jill S]

I have bought perfume kits from easy, and ones that I can't get samples for if I trust the company Or like the notes. In most cases, it was ok, but not great. I try to order samples. Generally, if it isn't a mini, I pass.

[Dionne]

No, I've never bought anything unsniffed. Partly because I'm very frugal, partly because I really enjoy the whole try-something-at-least-three-times-before-making-up-my-mind (it's fascinating how you can learn new things each time you smell a fragrance), and then the wonderful anticipation of ordering something that I've come to love. Also, I discovered pretty quickly that reviews are subjective (since we're throwing around examples from The Guide, Black Cashmere, which got three stars, is fabulous on me, while the 4 star Chaos was almost a scrubber.)

[OperaFan]

I feel so greedy, but would love to have these!
I rarely buy blind, although some prices for samples are so expensive that I end up regretting the sample purchases!
The first perfume I ever bought untested was the reformulated Femme having read about it in a nostalgic magazine article, not knowing about the reformulation. It was among the most unusual fragrances I'd tried to date, but I learned to enjoy it so no regrets.

[Fernando]

Alas, I do buy perfume without smelling it first. Not that I should... But living far away from perfume stores does restrict one's choices. I try to get samples when I can, but it's not always easy. Those new Diors, for example... I'd love to get samples of those. So far, no luck.

[Vishishta]

Yes I bought Ormonde Woman untried because it is only available in London. It did not smell anything like it's description, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't do that again. Sometimes you have to take a risk!

[Maureen]

I tried some really old fragrances that my boss's wife was giving away. They were extremely heavy, maybe had gone Bad? and I tossed them. I love Coco Mademoiselle and most of the Chanel fragrances.

[Joe]

Yes, I have bought many fragrances without testing them. Most have been great successes.

[Chance]

Mmm... I've been dying to try these.

I never buy without testing, though I'm often tempted by a really delicious description. My skin tends to morph fragrances unexpectedly, and they almost never smell the way I'd expect based on the notes list or other folks' reviews.

[Milena]

I do buy perfumes without testing, sometimes even expensive. I have had both successful purchases and disappointments.

[DRTVRMoi]

I work in direct response television so I am a easy mark for home shopping TV. Their mass appeal products lend a lever of safety and the prices are reasonable. If they fail to amuse, my niece inherits them. She is a perfumista in training.

[Meggie]

I have bought fragrances without first trying them and have had success as well as failure.

[london]

I have bought fragances having sprayed them once and swapped for several blind but I generally make it a rule to test first. However rules can always be broken!

[Amanda]

Yes, I have bought perfume without testing! I was very happy with Alien and womanity by Thierry Mugler!! Once tears ago I ordered Sensi by armani and was severely disappointed.

[Aster]

I try to sample before buying perfume. However, I have tried my chances the other way round, buying without testing it first.

[Magnus]

I have to wear my perfume for a while before committing.

[Natalia]

I have to try first. Sometimes I am tempted at TJMaxx or Marshall's :), but so far i wisely resisted the urges :) Since i took interest in perfume I picked up/bought quite a few samples to go through and I also realize I don't need many full size bottles. Oh, I remember one! bottle I bought unsniffed: I was picking up Jo Malone's French Lime Blossom from a craigslist lady and she also had small bottle of Red Roses which I also got. But I've smelled it, although not too carefully, in store before and in general Jo Malone's range doesn't strike me as full of concentrated, hard to wear fragrances, so it was a good buy.

[Gitcheegumee]

I recently purchased Bellodgia,blind, upon the recommendation of a "perfumaitresse" ..(wink!)I have not yet received it,but I will report the results of this experiment.

I try to obtain samples or decants(thanks to the internet) prior to investing in high end scents,but have gambled blind and lost big on Goutal's Grand Amour.However,I recently purchased some Floris Edwardian Bouquet,strictly from reading its description, and I am totally mesmerized with it's elegance and sophistication- for a floral.Gorgeous!

As I live in an unsophisticated area where physical access is limited to the higher end houses,sites such as this are immensely instructive and entertaining.

Please enter me in the drawing.Winning this giveaway would be like icing on the gateau!

[KathyT]

I am completely guilty of buying before testing, but I am buying mostly decants now. I am expecting a delivery today of a bottle of perfume that I bought without testing because some of my scent twins loved it. I've liked most of what I've purchased, and I even loved a few of them. The only full bottle that really didn't work for me was Diptyque's Ofresia - there is something there that does not work for me. Also a bottle of Ozbek had to be immediately swapped away because it triggered my migraines. I dicovered that I love the flower hyacinth, but I cannot wear a hyacinth fragrance.

Thanks for the drawing!

[sonia garcia]

I never buy blind, I go to the stores to sniff it firs and if it is something a little bit difficult to find I buy a little sample first, thanks for doing this cool draw, I heard so many good things about this line.

[kjanicki]

Yes, once. I bought a bottle of Diaghilev unsniffed and had a friend bring it back to Canada for me. I did it because it had great reviews, was a limited edition, and samples were hard to get in Canada. I was lucky, I love it.

[Patricia]

I do buy unsniffed - for example the fragrances I think have the notes i have a momentous craving and like the bottle at the same time. Or those about which I read positive reviews. So far I regret a blind buy of Emeraude Edt on ebay,a reformulated one that hadn't fit the descriptions of many reviews. I guess I will still carry on blind buys.

[*jen]

I do not, and don't plan on it. I think... ;)

[Karen G]

You know, I've never bought a bottle of perfume un-tested...until 2 days ago. I was looking for a cheap perfume to use as a bathroom spray at my local drug-store (Because I hate all the air fresheners that are sold as such), and there was Dawn by SJP sitting on the shelf, being sold at a huge discount. There were no testers, but what the heck, the packaging matches my bathroom! And it's not bad at all; a pretty musky floral. I could have done a lot worse.
Thanks for putting me in the draw...

[Alexia Katz]

Never. Wish that I could, but I have a quirky skin chemistry and what is divine on most people is cat pee on me.

[axum]

Not having reliable postal service and living far from good perfume counters has lead to a few blind buys in airports and while on holiday. A few days ago in Canada, I found a bottle of something I'd never heard of in the local Winners (equivalent of TJs). It was 06130 Cedre, and it turned out to be one of the most subtle and comfortable scents I've ever experienced! Other happy blind finds: Kenzo 5.40pm in Madagascar, Guerlain Lemon Fresca, and Donna Karan Gold. Less successful: Sonia Rykiel, Pure White Linen, Cabotine de Gres.

[Susan]

I have bought bottles of fragrance unsniffed. I got a full size bottle of Sarah Jessica Parker Covet at Marshall's on sale for $17 unsniffed. I figured it wasn't much money and absolutely everything I read about the perfume made me think I would love it. And I do. It's such a great fragrance.

I think that is the only thing I've bought COMPLETELY unsniffed. When I bought Escale de Pondichery I don't think I'd tested it on skin...

[Kata]

Yes, all of my vintage ebay buys have been blind. Some are loves like the classic Diors, others are so-so (like My sin and Crepe de Chine). But no regrets, they are part of perfume history.

[Lindaloo]

If it costs any real money at all I have to sniff it and wear it first before buying. When it comes to an inexpensive vintage find or a mini I'm willing to take the risk of buying unsniffed, especially if I know it has notes that I usually like. Where I agonize is over those sealed boxes at the discounters -- not really expensive, but still a waste if I don't like the scent. So far that waffling is coming down on the side of no to unsniffed.
And that's why sample draws like these are so wonderful! Thanks.

[Roberto]

I bought Ormonde Jayne Man and I loved it, also bought Parfums d'Empire Iskander and loved it too, there was a couple of blind buys that I didn't like but I sold them easy because they were niche and found people wanting to buy those that I didn't like, thanks for the draw and for entering my name.

[Lavanya]

I've only bought the crazylibellule sticks unsniffed (and quite a few of them..:))- but never full bottles of liquid perfume. Oh I just remembered- actually I did buy PN Just un reve unsniffed- but ended up gifting it to my ma-in law who loved it more..(there was one note that I did not love in the perfume- maybe tiare?)
I am curious about M- so would love to be entered..
Thanks!

[chrisb]

I have bought unsniffed even though I tell myself that I won't. One of my very first perfume purchases outside of a department store was a bottle of Annick Goutal Eau d'Hadrien on the basis of a newspaper top ten perfumes list (before I discovered perfume blogs). I was dismayed - the beautiful citrus fragrance I had read about was to my nose lemon cleaner with harsh wood tones. I told myself I had learned my lesson (I haven't!).

[chrisb]

ooh, I've just read my comment above and it sounds rather harsh - I like a number of Goutal fragrances. It just taught me to approach citrus with caution and not unsniffed!

[linda fey]

I have only purchased one bottle unsniffed. And to my delight, I loved it!
It was Carnal Flower. I had read so many lovely reviews about it... and found a small bottle on E-bay.
I am so happy about that little purchase!
I will be buying a full bottle soon :-)
Thanks so much!
Linda

[violetnoir]

Yes! I have bought perfume unsniffed. But it's been such a long time since I did it, I cannot remember what it was that I purchased. It must have been a waste of my money, because I stopped doing it.

Although I almost purchased a bottle of Chanel Beige unsniffed when it first debuted at Saks in NYC a few years ago. I thought the notes sounded intriguing. I, however, recovered my senses, and purchased a sample of it first. I finally bought a full bottle last Spring.

Anyway, thank you for this lovely draw, V! Please enter me in it.

Hugs!

[Stacy]

Yes I have bought perfume I've never smelled before. I was on a ship and wanted some new perfume so I just relied on reviews and hoped for the best. I did like most of what I ordered but there were a couple I didn't like, but I was able to find a good home for them where they were appreciated. I do prefer to sample but if it sounds like it will be heaven in a bottle for me I will buy it without testing.
Thank you for giving us a chance to try this perfume. It sounds amazing from the descriptions.

[Carla]

Thanks for this! I only bought "cheap" perfume untested, like Silences and Tocade. I would never spend more than $50 on a bottle that I haven't smelled.

[aotearoa]

Never - I like to test first. Love to be in the for a chance. Thank you

[Elizabeth T.]

Ordering a perfume without trying it would be a huge gamble! Call me boring, but I have to go through at least one tester before I take the plunge - buying a full bottle is a big commitment...

[Musette]

Like most of us, I buy vintage 'blind' and I have largely been lucky - in fact, on more than one occasion I have been blown completely away!!! Contemporary blind buys include Jacomo Silences and Balmain de Balmain - though 'blind' isn't totally accurate; they were recommended by a trusted nose and I was thrilled with them both!

What a lovely, generous giveaway!

xoA

[Gina Thompson]

I've bought so many bottles unsniffed. I know I shouldn't but I just can't resist a good buy. Often, I give them away if they aren't a good fit, or use for room spray. Thank you for the chance at some puredistance. I have never tried any and am very eager:)

[Denise]

I've bought some bottles unsniffed. Some have worked out, some not. One that did was Givenchy III. I read about on the blogs, and for some reason, had to have it. I loved it's greenc Chypre-ness and bought a backup.

Please enter me in the drawing . Would love to try M

[Denise]

Thanks for the chance to sample puredistance! Other than samples and decants, I don't buy unsniffed unless they're bargains. Rochas Absolu and Tocade, Caron Montaigne, Ava Luxe Nude Musk -- so far, no regrets. I hope my luck holds out, since I have a bid on another blind buy on ebay ...

[LostArgonaut]

I buy fragrances blindly almost all the time. Only exception is L'Instant de Guerlain Pour Homme, which I debated to buy at first sniff in the store but its sale price and the hype of the house won me over. It was a beautiful introduction to the Guerlain house, the only thing I regret is that I only bought one bottle....