and it feels a bit like this with reviewers and ‘product’… if you get something for nothing (rather than having to WORK for the price of that niche perfume) it becomes VALUELESS. I think that instead of using word BIAS we should concentrate on GENUINE. How people get their frags for a review, i couldnt care less, but what irritates me is constant praise of an absolute sh!t of a fragrance, especially when its an ambroxan bomb or a chemical smelling mess. With all the advancements we make in industry we should be making perfumes that previous generations could only dream about, instead we take talented perfumers to create garbage and hype it on youtube. What a sad state of affairs. We all find value in specific fragrances where others do not, and that can be because of internal factors like taste and preference, as well as external factors, like the physiological and experiential differences between us all which affect how we are able to smell and how smells press against our individual emotions. Polymathic - Just to be clear, I agree with disclosing in general as I said more than once in the article. I don't want to see any content creator (writer, videographer, whatever) intentionally mislead their audience. At the same time, I do feel that the community in general worries a little too much when we (the community) call out someone for not disclosing, say, a free sample. My point is that we sometimes treat that instance with the same relative degree of suspicion as we would a reviewer not disclosing they received money or multiple bottles or the like. My sarcasm there may lead you to believe I’m bitter about this. Truly, my writing here comes from a place of fascination over anything else. It is interesting to see this community talk about journalistic ethics while also entrenched in my own journalistic career. Part of me is simply glad to see journalism taken so seriously.

And in my experience, I am yet to see one of these "influencers" making collections out of their freebie bottles disliking a fragrance, really, they like 100% and in off chance they don't, you can't see that in their posts, they just avoid negative things to say and dodge by word play, while having the audacity to show off without any useful information on perfumery, notes, fragrances themselves but rather with just a stupid music with their stupid faces making stupid reactions and showing a shelf of hundreds of bottles.

But, somehow, we’ve assigned perfume reviewers the reverential task of being completely “impartial,” as if anyone who talks about an art form can be! We’ve placed the burden of credibility on reviewers to be as unbiased as they possibly can be, as if they alone are responsible for the purchasing decisions we make. Despite its eccentricities, I Don't Know What is surprisingly adaptable, proving to be a good fit for different seasons, though it shines brightest during the spring. Its versatility extends to various occasions as well, from leisurely outings to business meetings, making it a reliable companion for your daily activities. While the perfume’s longevity is commendable, the sillage isn't as prominent. This makes it a great choice for those who prefer a more personal, intimate scent rather than one that announces their arrival from a distance. This might also be the reason why it's more appealing to a slightly older demographic, who often seek fragrances that aren't too loud. I Don't Know What by D.S. & Durga is a perfume that undeniably stands out from the crowd. This is a perfume that neither sways too feminine nor too masculine, making it a great choice for those seeking something that defies the traditional gender-binary scents.

years ago Google quietly removed the “search discussions” filter, and it enraged me. I used it daily. I have always preferred hearing from regular people when it comes to any product or any current issue. But with a lot of Youtube reviewers, it doesn't even matter about the delusions of grandiosity there is, if the fragrance is bad and they are wasting people's money and if they are not disclosing. At this point they just want the views and I don't think they really care about their audience. You have to cut through some serious moral character to do a lot of this "Simping." Some would disagree. If they really cared about real change that benefits the community they would buy the fragrances themselves and not be influenced by who's offering them the most free products and how high of a status they are going to move up in youtube and the fragrance community. Or that they are influenced with those numbers to sell there extremely expensive, almost unreachable over priced products. Some of their products are really good..but most are overpriced. But that's the freedom of choice. You don't have to buy it nor support them.And trust me when I say if you don't think they will do anything to keep their cash cow or popularity going they will. I've seen it. Fight even teeth and nail deceiving others to keep youtube chanels and algorithims going. Some will go as far as to even buy views. People eventually become just numbers..it's no longer about the art of it and the community..your too influenced by popularity and greed at this point and will sell your body, soul, anything to get it.

Key Notes of I Don't Know What

I absolutely care about bias. Getting a sense of what people's biases are helps me gauge how helpful their opinions may be to me. It's the reason a lot of fragranticans put their note preferences and the like into their bios. Obviously we're all coming from our subjective place, and describing that is the art and the fun. As for disclosing when you receive something from the manufacturer, that's just basic ethics. Of course you should do that. Why even question that, of course it's important. jarroditshallbe - great point! I think part of the uproar about getting anything for free in perfume is that we as an audience are looking for a way to easily distinguish "content that is worth our time" from "content that isn't." I understand and empathize with that need because there is SO MUCH content about perfume out there to sift through. Whether or not I expressed it well in my article, I do think part of my motivation for writing was to say, "We all have to find ways to navigate the great wall of content that is available, and if you're a person who sees the act of receiving something for free as a method, that's ok -- but to me, I'm most concerned with the perceived quality of the review. Was I informed, entertained, or did I come away with something I didn't have before watching/reading?"

A funny yet thought provoking movie called "They Live" with Roddy Piper talks about it. I think people are more and more awake and are just tired of being influenced all the time. And believe me everywhere you go everyone is influencing you to do something. It get's old..but it's humanity. There is nothing new. People want something more so they go to politics, religion, etc but there is nothing else are far as this consumerism bubble that society pushes on you to make money, especially in America where I live. It's so bad here and everyone knows it. The question's you have to ask yourself..Are people that diabolical in making money off of your weaknesses? Well..Yes..look at Facebook, Youtube or any business influencing you..they have AI technology made for that and AI don't care how you think..it's programmed to make money at all costs and they have and will continue to do so for money..the sad part is when it's all said and done what I have seen recently is that when those same people realize the damage they have done to society you can later see they have remorse about it, quit their jobs or sell off their companies and go on a journey being proactive warning others and wish to change the outcome to hopefully reverse the damage that has been done. The one thing they all have said is they never knew what the outcome was going to be and how much damage it would cost. The other question is how much do you want to contribute to that consumerism? What is the damage being done or the costs..and are you ok with that? It's a hard thing because one has to put food on the table so I do understand businesses and making ends meet. We have predetermined some of them to be “shills” if they talk about one house for too long; if they don’t reveal the precise nature of their interactions with a brand; if they don’t publicly sign-on to some reviewers’ code of ethics. I recently blind bought Montale Pure Love because I read here that it was very similar to ILNYFH (Bond). FAIL. To me it’s nothing like it!So a little bit of honesty regarding their ties to the companies/perfumes they praise is needed. I think? maybe I am too naive? Must fragrance influencers have YouTube channels. More views more money. More views more adds >>MO MONEY! A bergamot accord announces freshness, vetiver acetate a thin amber, firsantol a lingering sandalwood, and iso e super a radiance. It is like a building with only structure – no interior. You can fill in the interior with an oil, a scent you like, even an old scent that has lost its way. IDKW is built to layer and enhance everything else it touches." I Don't Know What by D.S. & Durga unfolds with a noticeable zest of bergamot. Its citrusy aroma carries a slight bitterness, providing an intriguing start to the perfume journey. This gradually transitions into the central essence of the fragrance, where the scent becomes notably synthetic, imbued with a dominant essence of vetiveryl acetate. It imparts a dry, woody aroma with a subtle, root-like undertone that speaks of earthy freshness. The complementary scent of ISO-E-Super adds an aromatic touch, hinting at cedar and leaning towards the spicier side of perfume scents. A fragrance enhancer with transparent radiance that gives any perfume a certain, as the French say, “I don’t know what.”