To love and appreciate something is to want it to be the best it can be. 

Perfumery is an art. Experience of art is subjective, and individual tastes differ. But if we want to know why some artworks are greatly valued, hold special appeal, and stand the test of time to be appreciated over decades, there must be standards by which to judge them.

In modern perfumery there is an almost absolute dearth of real, meaningful criticism. Criticism is an important companion to art. Criticism presents perspectives, poses questions, and examines relationships and parallels to larger topics. This encourages contemplation and conversation about a work. Ideally it inspires others to apply critical thinking to their own experience. 

Perfumery is also a commercial industry, and it is rooted in science. The intersections of art, industry, and science create unique situations in perfumery which require creative solutions and could spark riveting discussions — if only we would have them.

False praise lowers standards and sends false signals about what is and is not desirable. It fosters complacency instead of growth and improvement. It erodes trust and diminishes engagement. It is patronizing and demoralizing. It cheapens true praise and stifles constructive feedback. Universal positivity is ethically questionable and functionally pointless. If everything is good, nothing is good.

To truly love perfume, you must be willing to look at it critically.

Disclosures & Ethics

This website is fully funded privately, by me. There are no sponsors, partners, or donors. The site does not contain any ads or affiliate links.

I believe that influencer culture is toxic and unsustainable. I don’t do “collaborations” with brands, nor accept free or “gifted” merchandise for review.

I do not solicit or accept samples from perfume brands or retailers. A mutualistic symbiotic relationship between “reviewers” and sellers of a product hinders the possibility of meaningful criticism (which also can function as helpful feedback, for both parties).

I reject all forms of plagiarism and the use of other people’s work without proper credit. When I use images and other forms of media, I do my best to find and credit the original source. When I use stock images, I purchase the appropriate license. When the name of an artist or photographer is known, I include it in the citation. Similarly, when discussing a perfume, I credit the perfumer if this information is publicly available.