...Does the bottom of the bottle give any information on the house or brand?

...DorothyGrace, I haven't had much luck growing lavender where I live. I believe it is too hot. I love cooking and baking with lavender flowers. I have a wonderful recipe I created, quite by accident, for Lavender Tea Biscuits and I've found tossing some flowers in to many recipes works quite well. Next time you make sugar cookies toss in 1-3 tablespoons of the blossoms for a wonderful treat. Perhaps we can arrange something where I can buy some dried blossoms from you when they are in season. I'd much rather cook with flowers from a source I know than risk buying from the shops. It'll probably be fresher that way too.Tar, I will definitely seek out some of your suggestions. the Hiroko Koshino sounds wonderful. I've had Tsar suggested to me on more than one occasion. I think it's time I seek out some samples. :)

...The ammo boxes are a great idea. I definitely should look into getting some. I agree that this hobby can be contagious. I got on of my co workers into and she's been on a serious spending spree ever since.

...I've recently discovered the John Frieda Dream Curl line. I love how it works with my curls. I like the shampoo and the conditioner best, but I use the serum on really frizzy days. I do need to rotate the shampoo and conditioner out every few bottles with something else though because it will start to build up.

...It all started with a sample of By Kilian A Taste of Heaven. This scent just sang on my skin. I loved how it wasn't girly and had a nice masculine edge that pairs well with my personality. From there I found Caron Pour Un Homme, Serge Lutens Gris Clair, Echt Kölnisch Wasser 4711,Versace Blue Jeans and Bond No9 New Haarlem. I also started discovering that some of my favorite woman's scents had this note in it though I never realized it before. Youth Dew, Lady Vengence, John Galliano EDP, Elizabeth Arden Blue Grass and the list goes on. What is it about this note that calls to me? Is it the versatility of it? Perhaps. I love how it's used in so many ways. Usually, in womans perfume it's to add a masculine edge to something and give it some grounding, especially when it's found in the very "girly" compositions. In mens scents It's used differently but I can't seem to vocalize how. I love how lavender is not overpowering and that it blends so beautifully with a wide range of notes. It really is a Jack-of-all-Trades.I think my all time favorite use of this note is in either the vintage Caron Pour Un Homme or By kilian A Taste of Heaven. Both of these just sing on my skin and make me feel wonderful. What are your favorite scents with Lavender? What have you noticed about it's versatility and how it's used? What do you consider the quintessential Lavender scents everyone should sniff?

...I am sorry I have not replied back to this sooner. I some how missed your comment. I have some scents that are still beautiful after 60 years, but very often in my older scents, the top notes are flat, or even turned (celery eww). These notes that turn are the lighter and smaller molecules (such as citrus) and in turn they spoil much faster than some of the heaver base notes like vanilla, musk, and woods. Most of my vintage scents are underwhelming for the first thirty min. and then they blossom into their original beauty. All experienced vintage hunters know that you can't judge a vintage until 30 min after applying because the top notes are rarely preserved but the heart and base notes are normally perfectly fine.The concentration of the perfume and the type of ingredients are also important. In the scents I own with the higher concentration of oils (like pure parfum and extraints) are the ones that are almost perfectly intact with no off notes. My Youth Dew Pure Parfum and Shalimar Extraint are almost black from age but they smell like pure ecstasy. Counter wise, my Emeraude EDC which is 20 years younger is completely turned in one bottle and the top is completely off in another. Also note that many synthetic chemicals turn much faster than the natural oils as well. Not always, but very often. Also many of the perfumes that are pure oils (ex, Deep Midnight perfumes, Black Phoenix Alchemy labs, Alkemia Oils, etc.) need to age to smell great. Often these scents aren't worth wearing until at least 6mo to a year after they are made and some may take 2 or more years t really hit their stride. I guess in some ways these oils are more like wine than traditional perfumes. From my experience these scents have a lower rate of turning as well, though I don't own any over 9 years old.Heat and sunlight can accelerate the spoilage process. Remember that a good wine is kept in a dark, cool wine cellar. If it was kept in the heat and light it would turn to vinegar. In that way it has many similarities to perfume. Also, like perfume an aged wine has different aroma and taste than it does when it's fresh. When we talk about wine this is a good thing, in perfume it can be a bit more hit or miss. I have a tall cabinet with drawers that I keep my scents in. Because If the size of my collection and the limited space I have I flatten out the boxes and store them in an empty suitcase. I just don't have room for them in my cabinet. Not storing them in the boxes hasn't effected them that I can tell. Most of my vintages don't have boxes anyway.

...I'm reviving this to add that I have discovered a new oil company, quite by accident, that I am really impressed with. Deep Midnight Perfumes. You can buy their scents from Etsy. I am incredibly impressed by the quality and depth of these scents. The only issue I am having is that I am having trouble narrowing it down to just a few I want to try. So many sound right up my alley and they have very favorable reviews.

...Ouch110 has been posting new reviews on youtube. YAY!

...too many...

...I don't know where it was released besides the US. It's still available but I'm worried it's newer formulations are not as good.

...I agree DorothyGrace, it's got to be phenomenal for me to spend more than $80 on it. The only bottles I own that I paid more than $100 for are my New Haarlem and APOM. I have to save for sometime to afford the high end stuff. Thankfully I have a wonderful friend who buys the scents I could never afford and she lets me take 5ml or 10ml decants from them.

...I wore Preferred Stock (1990) Cologne exclusively from 1992 until 1996 and I've been wanting to get another bottle. My question is, do I need to seek out a vintage from that time period or is the new stuff on the shelves just as good? Has it changed much over the years?

...I have decided that this is the year I finally scrimp and save to get a bottle of Vagabond Prince's Enchanted Forest. I have wanted a bottle of this scent since it launched. I have a sample that I dole out on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but after a few Christmases it's almost gone. The $200 price tag has kept me from purchasing it before now, but If it's the only bottle I buy for the next 6mo, it'll be totally worth it.What must you have to ring in the new year?

...The name is still blocked out so It doesn't look like it.

...I picked up Jungle off of Fragrancenet for $40 I think.

...Have hope DorothyGrace! I managed to pick up a few bottles of vintage Tabu on Ebay and Etsy for a really good price. Only one of the bottles I found from the 1980s had the top notes gone off. One bottle had the top notes flattened out a bit but the other bottles were pristine and the heart and drydown of all the bottles I found were perfect. With a bit of research you can find this lovely from the 1980s with out spending too much. Also, have you tried Kenzo Jungle. It has the same kinda vibe for me that my Tabu and Youth Dew have. It's not a smell alike in anyway but It's grouped with those scents in my mind and the current version isn't expensive but it's still a lovely powerhouse. Also the Current version of Habanita is completely lovely. Like Jungle It's filed in my powerhouse from the 1980s spot in my mind. It's not a exact replica of the 1980s Habanita but it's still definitely Habanita and really beautiful.

...Thank you for the suggestions Dulcemio. I have been wearing some of my natural oils more like you suggested. I have found my violet oil and my rose water to be comforting. Thankfully this week I've been able to wear a light spritz of my gentler scents. The general malaise of the first trimester is finally passing and I'm entering the more enjoyable second trimester. I think I'll be able to start reviewing scents again soon. :)

...Recently I've been introduced to Byredo perfumes. I was blown away by not just the strength of them, (fills the room) but by the quality of these scents. I am lucky enough to have a friend who allows me to take decants from her bottles because I cannot afford to purchase these scents on my own. I haven't sniffed a scent from this house I don't at least like and many of these scents are very unique and interesting. Notably I enjoyed Pulp, Inflorescence, La Tulipe, Seven Veils, and Oliver Peoples among others. What have you recently discovered?

...Gmmcnair, I just realized I have yet to try the new youth dew. I think I should try and find a sample so I can do a comparative review. I also have a bottle of vintage pure parfum that would be fun to compare as well. Thanks for giving e a great idea :)

...Thankfully, Vintage youth Dew is still pretty affordable on ebay and such sites. I've rarely found it turned. Sometimes you can find it at thrift shops and estate sales too. You may be able to affordable get your mom a bottle of vintage so don't give up hope :)