We’ve become obsessed with skipping ads/commercials just to watch an ad/commercial.

Im just so fed up with influencers posting "perfumes im obsessed with right now" only to find out all their recommendations are gifted perfumes...🤦🏻‍♀️

These days most of the bigger perfume channels (over 20k subs) are salespeople pretending to be reviewers. You can usually spot them because whenever a "niche" brand puts out a new fragrance, they all suddenly get a full bottle and post an overwhelmingly positive review, and never mention that fragrance again... and of course, they never discuss price (they got sent it for free) or value for money (because it isn't).

As someone who has been doing the YT fragrance bit for 10 years, I agree with the majority of your points. I've seen a massive change in this community and the influencer culture has made me remove myself from most of this community. I was very good friends with a number of these big name influencers but I just got tired of the business side and lack of genuine friendships which turned out to be more about the business in the end.

Overconsumption is something I’m facing now. I want to minimize blind buying in the future. Thanks for this video, Claire. Balance is important in this space 💛😊

Nailed it!!! I have unsubscribed from all the influencers that only focus on niche brands with affiliate links. It’s gotten ridiculously out of hand!

You hit the nail on the head. I go to KZfaqrs to learn about new releases or popular fragrances, but I always go to Fragrantica to see what real people are actually saying about the fragrance and it is often completely different.

Claire, you are a breath of fresh air. If only more people were like you. Thanks for “spilling the tea”.

Your charity idea was such a good one. I wish they had taken you up on the offer. Also on that note, heart surgery is lot for anyone to go through but especially a child. I’m really glad you’re on this earth ❤️

Watching this video made me feel as if I was reading an academic paper in which perfume influencing on KZfaq was critically reviewed. Thank you, Claire, for this highly educative piece. I learnt a lot.

Social Media is a marketers dream. Ads are cheap and you have a captive pre-selected audience of subscribers. 🤩 Greed can be a good thing if it motivates you to develop something useful. But when it motivates you to give up your integrity or purpose, it will crush your soul.

Thank for this! I used to make perfume. My brand was Sebastiane. I had a really popular gourmand perfume called Espresso Royale. I have since stopped making perfume for the reasons you mention. I was shocked at how cut throat the perfume community is. Those FB perfume groups where a nightmare for me.

This video was pure gold. I appreciate your honesty and it’s something I’ve seen. It’s such a dilemma because if you’re only making content for the money, it can quickly become fake. There’s definitely a fine line between shelling out and making content you love for the community you love while making a little bit of money to support it. Cheers to your channel growth! ❤

I used to follow a content creator, who makes at least 3 videos per week. Last year, she made a video about fragrances she wears the most. I was stunned by two things: 1) none of those mentioned were ones about which she had waxed poetically and had promoted in her numerous videos; 2) the ones she actually wears are ones on which she had spent her own money. That was an eyeopening moment for me, and quickly unfollowed.

I am an old frag lady and just began my YT fragrance journey January 1, 2024. Making YT frag videos is fun and I do it for fun. I currently have 3 affiliate links that I post in my description. But, I always emphasize that the fragrance prices fluctuate like the stock market. I encourage my viewers to check multiple online sites (that are not affiliates that I also include) to be sure they are not overpaying. I tell them that when they save more, they can buy more. My goal on my YT channel is to bring viewers along on my fragrance journey and learn to appreciate fragrances and hopefully identify with me and my untrained nose as we rediscover our gift of scent. I watched your entire video and agree with most of what you presented. I took notes and want to be sure that I do not fall into any of the 13 categories of YT frag influencers you highlighted. I am a caregiver spouse for my chronically ill and disabled Sweetheart. My fragrance obsession is an outlet for the stress of being a caregiver over the last 20 years. I am 77 years old and have no idea how to be less than honest about any fragrance I review. Thank you for pulling back the curtain surrounding some perfume influencers and others with affiliate links. I have found several really genuine fragrance influencers and truly enjoy their candid reviews and their revelations about their paid or gifted endorsements and honest reviews. I want to grow my channel to be like them and your.❤❤

Once a month I go through who I am subscribed too, to check in with myself on if they are adding to my life. Because in truth I’m giving my time and hours to watching and liking and commenting. So you’re hitting all the points I agree with and can appreciate. Thank you for being you ❤

What a great video again, Claire! Thank you! I was thinking about the point you 've made about Navitus for a long time now! I was watching an influencer promoting another influencer's new fragrance, thinking: ...how could I believe anything that she's saying? Clearly, they are promoting each other alternatingly, regardless of what the perfume smells like.

So kind of you to offer the brand making the donation. They really missed out on not taking you up on it.

Claire, one of the many things I appreciate about you is that you reply to every single comment on your channel.When I first watched the video on saturday, I was like oh, this will go viral! And then I thought to myself well, this time she won't be able to reply to them all! Well, it did go viral but yes, she is!😃 Love to see your channel growing. That's what I call organic growth! Greetings from Romania!❤

I’ve watched the video in its entirety and have a few thoughts. As someone who has been doing this for years, I don’t see the issue with having affiliate links especially with brands that one has always supported. This is a full time job for a lot of people and if they are doing the work, they should be compensated. That being said, I completely agree that people should disclose if their fragrances were gifted or if the video is sponsored (which are hard to come by these days). I receive PR and never feel I must be leave a positive review. I believe in highlighting strengths and weakness of any fragrance. I started off buying my own fragrance and have no problem doing so. Being an influencer is a choice and the people who follow choose to support their favorite content creator. You made some very valid points because sadly there are people who aren’t genuine with subscriber counts, likes and the lists goes on. I appreciate your transparency. Thanks for sharing.

I mostly just enjoy listening to people talk about perfume. I do appreciate the folks that disclose PR gifts, feature bottles of well loved (large dents) fragrances, describe fragrances according to their noses instead of regurgitating notes from Fragrantica, and just genuinely seem to LOVE fragrance in general. Social media is so weird, and I could never make content a full time job. I couldn’t handle the constant negativity from strangers. What is it with humanity and the urge to be so negative, mean, & hateful ALL THE TIME anyway? High five to everyone committed to doing what they truly enjoy and being able to slug through the ugly side of that stuff. Influencers definitely play a role in mass consumerism, but it’s ultimately on the consumer to be responsible with their money and not blame influencers for impulse buying. I appreciate your content because it’s different, fun, well thought out, and I can tell you enjoy discussing the content you put out every week. The science content is my favorite. 😊 I also appreciate the transparency. Hope you are having a good weekend.

I’m shocked at how much influencers can make per bottle sale. I never thought about that. But given the absolutely ridiculous rise in perfume costs (especially regular designer fragrances) it makes sense. I’m grateful for your video for drawing attention to how influencers operate.

Thanks Claire. That was very educational to me. With only a year of fragrance obsession under my belt, it didn't take long to narrow down who is trustworthy on KZfaq. And I honestly never thought about their income & I rarely use affiliate links. I'm just interested in a honest review. And I love declutters explaining why you're not in love anymore. The system does promote excess consumption. But I feel it's our own personal responsibility to not go there. Really enjoyed your video.

Yes to everything you said today, Claire! I did not know the percentages of money influencers were making on each affiliate link purchase that followers make. On another topic: I had my first experience of getting tricked into buying a fake fragrance on an online second-hand store. After buying a travel size spray of Diptyque Fleur de Peau, I bought what appeared to be a slightly used bottle at a nice price. When I received the item, to my surprise it was still in the original plastic wrapping. The packaging and the bottle looked very convincing, but the juice smelled nothing like the real thing. I went to a local department store to get a genuine spray, and it smelled like my original travel spray, but not the fake bottle. My partner surprised me by buying a real new bottle from NOSE. So now I can see all the minor ways the two versions of packaging and bottle differ. These fake perfume distributors clearly have companies, factories, and smart designers. Ugh. Thank you, as always, for your thoughtful and ethical content. Have a lovely day. 🦋🧡🦋

Honestly, as a viewer I am fully aware about PR and affiliate links and such. Whenever I listen to recommendations I take these things in mind and make sure I investigate further through other sources before I decide to buy something. And if I decide to buy after this, and it was because of someone's KZfaq video, why shouldn't I click on the affiliate link and help them out in turn, just as they did? People spend hours filming, editing and planning videos that they should be compensated for. I understand if for some doing this is just a hobby, but it doesn't take away from the fact that it takes a lot of effort to produce anyway. I think people are intelligent enough to not take word for word everything said by influencers and do your own research, but that's just my opinion

I always appreciate your thoughtfulness, intention and how genuine you are. So, thank you for a peek behind the curtain!

3:49 I like this point . I’ve found you cannot judge a persons knowledge on their appearance nor collection . I own about 25 fragrances, and am usually rocking pajamas because of my disability… however I know more about fashion history , designers and now through great research, more about perfume than one might guess . Sometimes for hobbyists and collectors, it’s the accumulation of knowledge that is just as satisfying and exciting as accumulating physical goods. It’s quite hilarious when sales associates make these judgements though , fun times.

Hi Claire! I run a relatively small indie fragrance brand and I appreciate your honesty. I price things based on the fact that I make these by hand. I think that as a small influencer myself, people not being honest about the product or fragrance is getting worse and worse. Also,some influencers want $500-$2k to review one product. As a smaller business,I just don’t have it….and I can’t guarantee that said influencer will send me sales. It’s a toss up. Thank you for your honesty.

Last year I was interested in Althaïr by PDM. Everyone and their grandmother was talking about it. Not just fragrance reviewers, but in a fragrance group I used to be in on FB. I was watching Demi Rawling unbox the fragrance on Instagram and KZfaq, and was blown away by the gorgeous presentation. I had never ordered from PDM, and couldn’t wait to have the same experience. It’s a $365 fragrance, currently, and it seemed more than worth it. The package came. And guess what was inside? The fragrance in a small box. And some crinkle paper. That was it. Yes, I ordered directly through PDM. I reached out to PDM, as I assumed there was some mistake. I thought they would be mortified. I asked where the gorgeous packaging with the bow was. I asked where the collector’s booklet on the fragrance was, as shown in the video. And I couldn’t believe it, when they told me that the reason Demi had received that presentation was because they have “a professional relationship” with her. “So wait. She got all of that for free…and when I pay $365, I get less??? You’re a luxury brand-how does that make sense??? And if all of that isn’t available to everyone, why was she showing it on camera???” After pushing like a Karen, they asked for my address. And sent me a discovery set in the nice packaging. It was nice of them. But the experience really changed my perception of both their brand, and fragrance influencers. I also sell jewelry. And over a year ago, I put a ton of effort into making a jewelry collection inspired by iconic fragrance bottles. I reached out to soooo many of these reviewers who I watch, hoping to collaborate. And not *one* would give me the time of day. I couldn’t believe it. I was like, “jeez…how many hours of watch time have I given your channel over the last few years???” It makes me sort of think that many of them are getting paid a LOT of money, to the point where they can turn their noses up at small/indy collabs. I dunno. I can’t really tell who to trust. Maybe the only KZfaq fragrance reviewer I realllllly trust is Sebastian. I used to watch Monika all the time. But I get beyond irritated on her men’s channel that she refers to everything as “cologne”, when she’s talking about an EDP or EDT or Parfum, probably because that’s what dudes who are uneducated about fragrances call them (how about educating them, instead…they aren’t “colognes”). And on both of her channels, she always talks about smelling good for the opposite sex. I’ve left so many comments saying that not everyone dates the opposite sex…and the comments are completely ignored. To me, that means that she is targeting one audience and one audience only, and will do whatever she has to do to sell on behalf of the brands, rather than caring about the emotions of her audience. Anyway. Rant over. Thanks for the very honest and helpful video.

Hello Dr. Claire, another interesting video! It's so odd that company wouldn't agree to the donation, I think it's a great idea and would even save them money 🤷‍♀️ I am all for women making money and using affiliate links for things they already love. I can see how it can become a problem when they are pushing products just to make money. I guess it's our job as a consumer to do our due diligence and to follow genuine people. I try to be genuine and I try to be careful with the content I consume.

It’s good to see people with integrity. What a rare gem you are. This is the first video I have seen of yours but will certainly watch more.

I actually don’t watch many big YTuber s , if I want to hear a true review on something I will go to a smaller channel that I know and respect Wow 😮 it blows me away they wanted you to recommend a website you can’t even review from Paid promotion is way to compromising for me I’m so SO happy you did this video ,I can always rely on you Claire to bring us amazing content

Lawd have mercy. I've gotten so many questions about your video. I love this for you. This was a brilliant idea. It's true for A LOT of reviewers for sure.

You are one of the most level-headed and down-to-earth KZfaqr. This is why I love watching your videos! Thank you for videos like this! ❤❤❤

Relatively new subscriber here. I love your perfume science videos- I find them very interesting and educational. One thing that I've noticed about some fragrance reviewers is the fact that some of them straigth up repeat reviews from fragrantica from other people when describing a fragrance. At the very least - I would expect a fragrance reviewer to make the effort to give their OWN impression of a fragrance on their content- Usually people who consume this kind of content are also on fragrantica. Is absurd to think it will go unnoticed

This is sooo true. I finally stopped blind buying bc of raving reviews - I've done that so many times and have ended up with many bottles that wasn't anywhere near what I expected (even after checking fragrantica and other KZfaq reviews). Now, I know which notes I like, sort of which KZfaqrs I trust, started buying more samples, and hopefully will not make the mistakes I have over the last two years. Thank you for your integrity 😊

This is such a great video with very valid points. I love that you asked the brand to donate to charity, it’s sad that they didn’t take you up on it. In some cases it seems like brands don’t have faith in their fragrances. I’m so glad you done this video ❤️

"When in doubt make tea." Indeed. Sage advice as I've come, ever so slowly, to learn. LOVE your videos! Thank you for making them. I've got some catching up to do.

Thank you for making this video. There seems to be an echo chamber of content creators who deny that there is anything unethical about fragrance content, especially on TikTok. Consumers spending their own money are thankfully starting to catch on to these schemes. There was a perfume launch a few months back that was so hyped up online that you couldn't escape the gifted posts. A few things struck me as odd. The brand put a huge amount of money toward gifting a huge number of influencers with free bottles and matching gifts in the boxes. On the other hand for paying customers there was no way to sample the perfume and they only offered it in a 100ml bottle. I started to think if they could spend all this money on a launch party, huge online campaign, and PR packages why could they not put an ounce of energy into creating a decent experience for paying customers? They spent time commissioning a custom board game for PR packages instead of creating a way for customers to buy samples.

The title of this video caught my eye and I decided to watch a bit to see what you were like. I didn't know if you would just rant or waffle or be informative, but I wasn't prepared for such an intelligent, coherent, and educational piece. I'm a fan of Ash Kirkland, so some of what you said didn't surprise me but I was shocked by the amounts that people get from affiliate links. You've got a new subscriber.

This channel resonates with me as scientist and perfume enthusiast. Thank you so much.

Another superb video, Dr. Claire! Thank you and I appreciate your little snippet animation images :) in support of your points.

One of the most eloquent and well-researched videos I've ever seen on KZfaq. Instant subscriber!

You are a breath of fresh air Claire and I think you're going to ruffle a few feathers 😂 I was nodding along with everything you said. I didn't realise how much is earned through affiliate links. I've never used them. I totally understand everyone has to make a living but I always wonder if someone is really being honest when they have affiliate links. I take some reviewers with not so much a pinch of salt, more a heaped tablespoon 😂

KZfaq suggested your channel to me a few days ago and I must say I quite like it! Amazing video, btw! 👏👏👏

You are one of my absolute favorite perfume you tubers btw !! I love that you present science-y stuff in in great detail but also make it very approachable and understandable. I hate when others want to reference a scientific point but just basically dilute it to practically meaningless or just have a yada yada moment

great video & approach, Claire! it's good to put things into perspective, to understand more of what goes behind the scenes. Honestly I am tired of seeing so many creators losing their sense of self, being inauthentic and becoming yet another sales person, I genuinely feel like I'm always being sold something. Lately I've been heavily curating who I follow and why I follow them. I appreciate and enjoy your content so much, you are a breath of fresh air! ❤

Hi Claire! So interesting topic. I appreciate you for explaining this to us mere fragrance videos watchers 😃 I think in the end it all goes down to personal ethics, and that varies tremendously, doesnt'it? 💙💙💙

Another great video Claire! 💕Every point you made is perfectly spot on and exactly why I can’t watch most fragrance KZfaqrs. I think another reason most of them seem to change their minds so frequently about perfumes is most of them are still fairly new to the hobby. Many started their channels during (or after) covid and they were just getting into exploring perfume around the same time. Most of them didn’t have any fragrance knowledge or experience before starting their channels so they are still figuring out what they like. That’s another reason I can’t take most of them seriously.

Another great one, Claire ! Enlightening ! I mostly blind buy (designer and clones, usually), but enjoy watching multiple YT vids , as part of the hobby. And Fragrantica is an excellent resource, as well. I read reviews, but take many with a grain of salt . I'm a retired gent, so I have the time to spend . And I enjoy it ! Fortunately, I don't often get a stinker. Maybe I'm too easy to please ? Dunno. One thing that I will mention - sometimes a cheap fragrance ...... is cheap. Especially in the performance department. Especially if you like stronger scents that last. This goes for both for some designers and dupes as well. Nothing worse than spending a premium price for a hyped designer frag that's weak. And, on the flip side, nothing is better than making a great value for money purchase that I love ! Lastly, the whole flanker thing is often a bit cheesy. Yes, it's true - sometimes a flanker can be preferred, but often it's not. Fraiche, edt, edp, parfum, extrait - can't help but think that it can be a cash grab. And the more extensive the flanker line gets, quite often, the better value for money can be found in the earlier releases !

Subscribed right after ur intro. Never seen u before but ur channel sounds FASCINATING and I’m excited to watch more of ur videos

Excellent!! Truth teller. Keeping it 💯. Honesty and integrity trumps all!! Thank you!!

Wow!! Each video of yours I click on is better than the last. What a great channel! 🤩

theres a couple fragrance reviewers on here i watch just to see how low they are gonna stoop but there are reviewers like you who i genuinely like listening to. ♡ thanks for the transparency

Hi Dr. Claire. I’ve missed watching but work has been a bear so I’ve had to scale back a little. Thank you continuing to be such a joy to watch. This same thing happened in other KZfaq communities and it’s sad to see it occurring again. But their are still and handful that haven’t sold their souls that I watch, you included, and that helps. I hope people will listen and take heed. Hope to see you again soon.

Brilliant vid Claire! Great point about the overpricing. Brands do show their cards once in a while if we're paying attention. Valuable info!

I thoroughly enjoyed this ❤ even as a smaller KZfaqr myself, I am also a consumer who falls prey still to those same influences. You touched on a lot of good points. I try to always be maintain transparency with my viewers for this very reason. You will definitely find your more honest and likely most relatable KZfaqrs are the ones under a certain number of subscribers.. unfortunately. Even if they start out genuine. Money can make ppl do and say things they may have never imagined they would. It’s good to hear these types of videos! Thanks you for sharing ❤

so appreciate your take! and would love to hear more of your niche brand recommendations.

Claire you really spilled the tea, as I had no idea that you were offered those deals and because of your ethics you said no! I applaud you and your standards it speaks volumes about who you are to the core! I hope that garners many many more subscribers for you. It can be a land mine out there for many content creators and when your channel is growing there are many choices and decisions to make. Great video as always! Hope you have a fantastic day my friend!

Hi Claire, very thorough video as always. As a consumer of YT videos with no channel etc, I definitely see the videos I watch as being by two different types of YT-er, those who are more hobbyists e.g. they don't rely on YT for an income, and those who do, and it's more the latter I see as influencers as such (even though obviously anyone can influence, however it's more about the intention and motivation specifically). Most of the channels I watch fall into the former category (Noura from MyWay, Emy from EmysWorldOfFragrance, RoseAndJones, SmurfyGurly, SimplyAyesha) I believe and I think that's partly why I'm drawn to them - their videos feel more genuine, personal and about their own interests in perfume and what they like/fits into their lifestyle. I do watch other channels too, but the style of content is less varied and to me, less like a perfume lover and more like someone who wants to promote things to sell. I don't mind this, as I don't begrudge YB-ers making money at all (in particular I'm very happy to use an affiliate link if I was planning on buying an item any way, as this is a way I can specifically support channels) as long as they are declaring gifted items etc, but I will say it's definitely slightly different in the way I receive the information. I think both types of content have their place on YT, and I don't have a problem with it, but equally I think it's key that consumers are aware of all the points you make here so they can make informed decisions on any purchases they make etc.

Claire Smith, I could kiss you on the lips right now! This video is so very refreshing for its honesty and integrity. I've often found the the larger the subscriber list, the less I trust that particular channel for all the reasons you mentioned that no one talks about. I would also mention , in regards to hidden endorsements, that sometimes people say on their channels "I bought this myself" when the truth is actually that they were gifted a sum of cash from the company and told they could buy anything they liked from the website in exchange for a review. Subscribed.

Thank you for your honesty. There are certain notes I cannot abide, like blackberry, strong jasmine, black currant, and gourmands in general. I have bought fragrances based on the recommendations of certain influencers and absolutely hated. After looking on line for all the notes, they had the very ones I could not stand. I now order samples, but read all about them first. I'm still looking for that signature scent that will make my heart sing.

What a great video! I feel lucky that I wasn't following any fragrance youtubers when I first started exploring scents, because I'm now quite sure of my preferences and can enjoy watching reviews without wanting to buy everything. I definitely think the monetary relationship between the youtuber and the store/brand they're talking about needs to be more properly disclosed - too often I find a sneaky hashtag "ad" or "sponsorship" at the very end of the caption, where nobody will notice it.

There are a few fragrance influencers I like to watch. After watching a lot, I return to just a few. Mostly I watch them to learn about new and different perfumes. After watching, I do my own "research" on a fragrance. I know what I like, I research notes, sustainability, etc. If I find one I think I might really like, I get a sample first. I never use an influencers link. I liked this video and you make some very good points.

Your honest and direct conversation on this topic shows how much you respect your audience! 👏 I think some of the audience figured out the KZfaqrs’ game so what you’re talking about is not a huge surprise but it’s still so refreshing to have this level of honesty.

When I first got into Fragrance many years ago I was influenced by Katie Puckrik and Luca Turin. When I got back into fragrance 3 years ago I didn’t realize how much had changed at first. Took me a while to get my bearings in this new climate… a learning curve for sure.

Wow that was such an eye-opener, I was not aware of the amount of different things going on in reviewing perfumes. Totally enjoyed the video and am now subscribed

What a wonderful video. You have verbalized so many of my own thoughts. I would like to say these Middle Eastern Fragrances come before they have matured. I have received perfumes that have absolutely no smell. After two or three months, the perfume blossomed and I could realize the true fragrance. Some were wonderful, some went in the garbage, unwearable for anyone. Many reviewers open the packages of these perfumes in front of you and review these perfumes. It is obvious to me they are reading ingredients and carrying on about the layers and reading promos. I wonder how they can review these scents. I receive some of those bottles and they have not at all developed. They are really faking the whole video on these new releases. I have bought into some of the hype and some of these perfumes are really bad after they mature; just a jumble of combined scents with this new Middle Eastern rave to sell product. Yes, you never hear about these bottles again because it was all fake and they had no reality about the true scent.

Thank you ! I have taken people off of my subscribe list because I feel their promotions made their reviews not real!!! I followed this woman from beginning and she was down to earth and I love that she brought up perfumes that were NOT hyped but then she collaborated with a niche perfume store and all she mentioned was those perfume!!! I decided not to watch those because I feel it’s fake! Believe me I get the collaborations but add some others fragrances!!!! Thank you again and thanks for letting me vent 😂

I do youtube for enjoyment. Life work balance. Its my hobby, not my job. This video is really something Claire. Bravo ❤❤

The retailer in the "stores that don't care" section doesn't care because they want to reach your viewers which ARE in places they sell to. That makes perfect sense. Your qualms is logical from your perspective. But from a business perspective it's not at all an issue because the internet is global not just the UK. But i think it's perfectly logical from your perspective to NOT want to put your name behind something you haven't experienced.

Hi Claire! I agree about so many of the points you made in the video. I love the term "ethical minefield." I used to watch many reviewers who started their channels by reviewing what they truly loved. However, they completely lost their integrity and credibility as their channels grew and sponsorships started rolling in. They began featuring five out of ten fragrances per video from brands they had discount codes for. This is where I draw the line. Would they choose the same fragrances if they weren’t getting paid? I don’t think so. Personally, I’m not against discount codes or affiliate links as long as they’re accompanied by full disclosure, both stated and written. As a small channel, I haven’t received any PR gifts yet, but if I ever do, I’ll make sure to be 100% transparent about it.

So many scented mercenaries out there, I rather stay small but honest ! I'm happy you are healthy now ! That company was not interested in charity, big shame on them 😡🤮😡 The Extragentsscents is a genuine one like you💖😍

Yet another informative, fascinating video. You have the most unique perspective on YT. I hope you never change the style of your videos. Thanks, Claire for what you do! ❤

I wish I could click the like button ten times over. No single lie detected in this video. Thanks for your classy yet truthful presentation. I did not realise how much money these influencers across the influencing spectrum are making. It definitely explains a lot. You've gained a permanent subscriber. Well done.

Keep up the straight talk, Claire! Really enjoyed this. Wonderful idea about having the brand donate to your charity, that seems like a no-brainer to me. I have to admit I have used youtubers' discount codes because why not save a few bucks on a fragrance I was going to buy anyway? 😁 Cheers!

It's actually hilarious to see some of the people who I consider to be unethical in these comments praising this video. Unreal.

Great vid, Claire! And the charity idea was fantastic!

I don’t normally comment on videos like these, because I usually find them to be very negative. Although I don’t agree with every single thing, you said, I do agree with a lot of it and I appreciate you sharing your opinions in a balanced manner! It was quite interesting to listen to, thank you!

Good Afternoon lovely Claire ❤️ so many interesting valid points discussed, I’ve always just used my instinct and I know what I love and what I look for when it comes down to fragrances , I can’t be influenced because I grew up in a city where “things” were being sold in every corner 🤣😉 I think I learned from an early age who’s trying to pull me in for their benefit and how to stay true and be my own person, no one can sell me something, if I buy it’s because I genuinely want to, this video is extremely helpful to so many, I have seen such a shift in the fragrance community and I sometimes get annoyed but my common sense kicks in and I understand people want to make money and it’s up to us individually to choose wisely or maybe do as I do support those I believe in or watch to educate myself in fragrance and continue my journey of being a fragrance collector ❤️ ( I’ve always trusted your positive vibes!)

When making purchases, I try to go directly to the actual fragrance house…..

Wow..!this was totally different.loved it.telling it as it is🤔👍.. thank you.iv subscribed

New subscriber here! I would like to say that it is so refreshing to see an honest person with integrity doing fragrance videos. I am so glad I discovered your channel! I enjoy discovering fragrances that are not the mainstream but many times it is so hard to find reviews because just like you mentioned regular KZfaqrs do not get any monetization from it therefore they don't do any reviews. A line that I have been enjoying so much is Le Couvent Maison and all the wonderful gems by Jean Claude Elena. Not easily available in the USA but upon research I see that they are available all over Europe for a very good price.

It took me MONTHS to realize that Fragrantica very often DELETES negative reviews.. which had the unfortunate effect of me naively buying some very trumped up scents only to be disappointed and somewhat confused as to why I wasn’t experiencing the same thing..I really detest that feature and find it hard to then trust ratings & reviews. I genuinely love the platform BUT have seen many people bullied or simply downvoted for having a negative opinion of their favorite fragrance. It was (and is) why I’m always very careful how I word any reviews I write; and even so I’ve had mine “disappeared” even though it was not offensive other than not giving a glowing review. I’ve also, since starting my fragrance journey, become aware of the absolute fragrance “snobs” that will default to hatred of any and all “designer” or mainstream fragrances that are absolutely beautiful & popular for a reason! I absolutely applaud your honesty and it definitely pulls back the veil a bit so we, the consumer, can have some clarity.

Thank you so much Claire for helping us to select what kind of video we should look at ! I'm so sad and angry when I see KZfaqrs telling us : "that's the BEST fragrance of all time" and declutter it the week after ! But some are so magnetic witches they speak so well and are so convincing that they could be drastic lawyers. Love your videos and analysis, please go on ! Best regards from Belgium.

An excellent video. It’s disheartening when I start to see fragrance reviewers begin to trade their honesty and integrity for cash.

I always trust your recommendations eventhough we don't have the same taste because you seem such a nice, honest person. Plus I really appreciate the fact that you do KZfaq for fun, not for money.

Thank you, Claire, for speaking out on this issue. These type of things have been going on in the beauty KZfaq space for a while, so it was only a matter of time that it came to the fragrance corner. I have noticed that once affiliate links and the dreaded “Shop” feature became prevalent, beauty creators suddenly became very interested in fragrance. I agree with all of your points, but I’ll add another red flag: When influencers start saying that you will never truly know how a fragrance smells with just a sample; i.e., you need to buy a full bottle and here’s my affiliate link. I’m not about that life (nor is my bank account). I own too many perfumes as it is. I now sample and that should be normalised 100%. I have so many other thoughts, but I’ll spare you. I appreciate your passion for fragrance and honesty. ❤

So true. More than a few times I've gotten the feeling, many of these influencers are little more than actors repeating what they've already read or seen on videos.

Thank you Claire for your refreshing and super controversial take!👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 This is why we love you! - I think it was Joma Shop that I saw a popular UK influencer recommending which made no sense to me! - I’ve also noticed another one review the new and hyped up fragrances, only for it to appear in their Mercari in the next few days - KZfaqrs pushing constant 30-40% sales for US sites makes me sick. Overconsumption is real and how are people affording this constantly?? - The next wave of influencer fragrances will be for Jackie Aina’s launch. Based on everyday consumer’s comments I’ve seen, the quality is atrocious but that won’t dissuade the wave of glowing reviews to come. - Glowing recommendations for fragrances with affiliate links - A new fragrance making someone’s Top 10 or Top For Life 😒 You’ve made so many great points!

Brilliant video Claire, I knew there was a reason I found your reviews the most honest and trustworthy! Thankyou! 🙂

Brilliant video Claire - and all so true! I also literally roll my eyes and count how many times a certain influencer mentions their own fragrance in their videos. It’s sometimes ‘take a shot everytime they say…’ 😂😂😂 it’s made me stop watching them tbh. You can tell when someone loves their fragrances because they’re actually used. I actually miss the days where I had one bottle, used it up and then had a new one.

This video should be YT fragrance 101 😂 thank you Claire for putting it out there❤

Love this video. You made some great points! I’m so “ perfumed out” lately 😂.

Oh my gosh, I really enjoy your videos + this one felt like a hug. I love perfumes… collecting, experiencing, collecting, sharing. People like Katie Puckrik, early in this “thing,” were so refreshing, helpful, authentic. I loved my first few years of my own channel experience. I have been baffled by the good things + people I’ve met. I moved a few months ago and decided to take a little time off. I haven’t jumped back in yet because I think more and more that this realm is driven by sell-sell-sell (and sadly with people who seem to have less + less authentic experience + with people who “look” more + more “polished.”). Like you, I’ve had some experiences, behind the scenes, that have taught me what is really going on. Also scary: how this culture has driven the unhealthy side of consumerism for some folks like me). I crave people like you who actually care + are driven by true creativity, interest, etc. Thank you so much for your generous sharing + intel, among many things! Best, Amy

Thank you Claire! I appreciate the effort in all your videos and the time spent to gather this information to share with us. Well done! 🤝 ❤

Thank you for speaking out on this topic. Great video.

Hi Claire! I’m having big trust issues with youtubers right now. I always did but it got worst recently when I bought many Middle Eastern perfumes people rave about… I was very underwhelmed and it made me question many youtubers that talk about them like the biggest invention on earth… taste is a reality but when I don’t even get half the notes they talk about, I get suspicious! 😅😂 Amazing informative video! 🙌🏻🙌🏻

Hey Claire - well you got this up which I hope means good news for your IT issues? 🙏 Excellent video, it takes *courage* to shed light on all of these issues. So much to unpack….I agree that negative reviews are helpful and needed, but as you adeptly pointed out *diplomacy* is key, just as it is in every facet of our lives. I don’t like hearing content creators just trash fragrances 🤬. PR is difficult. Even when they mention it, I have noticed even creators I like starting to be swayed by overpriced brands and hype things that don’t deserve it. We’re all simply not going to blind buy $200+ bottles several times a month. Just no. Also, I hate when everyone seems to receive the same PR at the same time. We’ve all seen it. Everybody seems to be reviewing the same stuff. It’s disappointing 🤬 We all know who those brands are. YTers need to realize we’re not stupid and we notice when everyone is getting the same PR, and perhaps be more transparent about that. Agree on Affiliate links, I rarely use them. Yes - disenchanted with all the “sale” videos lately; creators creating specific content to get subscribers to shop a sale. All they do is run thru bottles they have repeatedly reviewed to get us to spend money 💵💵💵 and you are right: they only talk about narrow brands. Ha ha I bet I can guess who that online retailer collaboration was! 🤔 Ethics are such a slippery slope. My dad told me a long time ago: our ability to rationalize our dubious (or outright bad) behavior is what separates us from the monkeys 🐒😟. Navitus/Vivamor are brands I will never patronize - and the drama surrounding those releases and YTers is distasteful IMO. Lastly YES overconsumption is making me weary 😵‍💫 I mostly buy samples decants or partials.

I can absolutely see what you are saying. It feels like we are watching infomercials! Thanks for your honesty and integrity Claire, always a pleasure watching.