After reading @Jonathan Ventura Post about labeling. Everything is about Labels, even in the designer world, where an independent person making clothes and accessories can never compete with the bigger upscale designer houses. Just like in perfumery, where Niche / Artisan is top of the line as far as quality and artistry. In the fashion world, Designers are the Niche and the independents are the designers. So the role reverses. If you look at the designer fragrances, they are mass-produced and most often Generic and safe. If you look at independent clothing brands that sell accesories and clothing and shoes at Walmart and Kmart and go to a store that sells LV or Dior look at the diffrence. Look at the red carpet at a Hollywood event, you cannot even count the Dior, Ysl and Hugo Boss, Chanel Dresses and gowns strolling down the Aisle. Look hat Ralph Lauren how many elite wear this brand. So everything has a label, but they all live in their own worlds. so why do people buy designer frags? People buy designer fragrances, even if they seem "nothing special," for brand prestige, accessibility, trend alignment, and the comfort of familiar, crowd-pleasing scents; they offer an affordable entry into luxury, convey personal style/status, boost confidence/mood, and feature quality ingredients and beautiful packaging, making them ideal for everyday wear or gifts. Key Reasons for Purchase: - Brand & Status: Wearing scents from famous fashion houses (like Dior, Chanel) associates the wearer with that brand's luxury image, offering a sense of status and belonging. - Accessibility & Familiarity: They're easier to find (ubiquitous) and often smell pleasant and familiar to many, making them safe choices for daily wear or gifting. - Mood & Identity: Fragrance boosts mood, reduces stress, and helps create a personal brand or statement, making the wearer feel more confident and attractive. - Quality & Longevity: Many use quality, sometimes natural, ingredients and fixatives for a longer-lasting scent, justifying the cost beyond just the name. - Marketing & Nostalgia: Heavy marketing and association with celebrities create desire, while familiar notes can evoke positive memories, making them feel special. - The "It" Factor: Sometimes, a fragrance becomes popular because it's the scent of the moment, aligning with current trends or creating a sense of shared experience. 

All seniors here please kindly guide me regarding a dilemma I'm facing. When I first started my fragrance journey I was still in my home country living with my parents and did not have any major expenses by myself. I used to work as well and study and I used help my parents with bills as well and then the rest I would spend on myself eg on a new fragrance. I had a collection of 5 to 7 designers back then. Fast forward to 12.12.25 now I'm studying abroad and I bear all my expenses myself and still help out my parents when I can. However, I've seen a huge shift in regard to my mindset regarding buying new fragrances..all my fragrances are almost used up except for the Aqua di gio parfum ;( . I want to buy a new one but now I don't think it is sensible to buy 2 3 as they are a bit expensive here in EU as per my opinion and I have to also save for my own bills and tuition! how do I go forward and have a healthy relationship with this hobby in a way it will not make me regret? I'm thinking about sticking to only 2 or 3 fragrances even though sometimes I get very tempted to buy a fragrance that I wanted for long time or that I used to like a lot! Yesterday I tried out Juliette Has a Gun Ego Stratis and now I'm in love with it but it's 100€ for 50ml 🙃 ... fy I'm 23 , a student nurse and I manage all my expenses alone . Anyone else ever face such situations?