Every year brands discontinue dozens of fragrances. Sometimes these are poor sellers, but often they are true favourites that people search for years. Here is why it happens and what you can do.
Why brands discontinue perfumes
- New regulations. Rules in Europe and perfumery standards restrict some ingredients, for example certain natural oils and mosses. Sometimes a brand cannot keep the scent the same and prefers to discontinue it.
- Collection refreshes. Brands change their lines and replace older fragrances with new versions.
- Limited editions. Some fragrances are created for a short time only from the very start.
- Ingredient costs. When a raw material becomes too expensive or hard to source, production stops.
What happens to prices
When a fragrance is discontinued, the available bottles quickly run out. Collectors buy them up and prices rise, sometimes many times over the original price. That is why discontinued perfumes are among the most sought after in the fragrance world.
How you can still experience them
A decant is the most sensible way. Instead of paying a collector's price for a full bottle, you get 5 or 10 ml from an original bottle and have the scent while it is still available.
At SwiftScent we have several such fragrances, for example Tom Ford Ombre de Hyacinth, Tom Ford Jonquille de Nuit, Paco Rabanne Black XS Potion for Him, Montblanc Emblem Absolu and Boss Bottled Oud. Each of them is marked with a rarity level so you know how hard it is to find.
Our advice
If you find a discontinued fragrance you love, do not wait. Availability is limited, and once the bottle runs out there is often nowhere to restock it from.
Read more: How to recognise an original perfume and What is inside the ?box mystery boxes