My 2025 Empties

Just to be clear — most of these have been with me for 2–3 years, but I finished them all in 2025. I haven’t bought any new perfumes this year, as my goal is to make space for a curated collection of around ten fragrances.

Perfume has been a complicated hobby for me for several reasons. I consider myself a minimalist — too much stuff overwhelms me, and that applies to almost everything in my life… except perfumes. I also find it hard to spend money on myself, something that probably goes back to how I grew up. So, finishing a bottle brings me so much joy, because it feels like I’m not being wasteful — I’m actually using and appreciating what I own.

Here are the perfumes in the photo (from left to right, starting with the back row), along with a few thoughts on each:

1. Narciso Rodriguez – Musc Noir – My fastest used-up fragrance and definitely one of my all-time favorites. This one will always have a place in my collection.
2. Burberry – Brit – Beautiful, cozy, and elegant. It’s the only Burberry that truly works with my skin. I’ll definitely repurchase it — a forever favorite.
3. Lacoste – Pour Femme – A wonderful scent with terrible longevity. I even have the matching body lotion (came in a set), but sadly, nothing helps this poor thing last.
4. Versace – Bright Crystal – I bought it because it was a great deal — and because I used to have a small bottle in high school. Unfortunately, it turned into a hate-spent and yet another reminder: don’t buy it just because it’s on sale. I remember loving it when I was younger, but honestly, at this point Versace fragrances feel like glorified body sprays at best.
5. Armani – Acqua di Gioia – I used to obsess over this fragrance back in college. When I finally bought it three years ago, something felt a bit underwhelming. Maybe it’s reformulated, or maybe it’s me — I still love the scent, but something’s missing. The older square bottle version felt denser and more vibrant. I’d repurchase it forever if the longevity were better, but for now, I’m still searching for the perfect freshie.
6. Mugler – Alien Goddess (travel size, 10 ml) – I like parts of this scent — it’s airy, sweet, and radiant. But I recently realized that solar notes aren’t really my thing. This one will just remain a summer fling.

I’d love to hear which of these you love or hate too!