Organizing the Collection
How was everyone’s Fourth? Or, for my non-US readers, how was your Tuesday? Mine was filled with explosions. One neighbor threw a big ol’ barbeque, which was reasonably boozy and terribly meaty (which pleased my carniverous husband to no end.) Another used to work as a pyrotechnic engineer, and he put on a great display for the whole neighborhood (see picture at left.) And unfortunately, my Fourth was also marked by exploding pipes. There’s currently giant holes in the bedroom wall where the repairs had to be made, and we need to let it air out before we can replace the drywall. I know this is a perfume site, but I need to take a moment to recommend that EVERYONE who purchases a new house get the seller to buy you a 1 year home warranty as part of the sales agreement. We got prompt service the very next morning, and it cost us only a $50 deductible. I really recommend it. I need to apologize to y’all that I was unable to post anything yesterday - we had the whole bedroom (where we keep the computer desk) in messy pieces, and getting to the computer was last on the list of priorities, unfortunately.
An idea that someone had floated past me in email a while back to write about was organizing one’s perfume collection. I thought I’d share some photos of what I’ve done with mine. I’ve got mine in a closet, though my husband likes to josh that it’s the world’s smallest perfume shop.
As you can see at right, I’ve got one set of drawers; Many of the bottles I lack boxes for are crowding the top. This is where I keep the stuff most prone to getting messy and going everywhere.
At left are pics of the two drawers devoted to samples. Notice I’ve yet to make any headway at all on somehow doing anything with those other than flinging them into a drawer. Yeah. I’m only pretending I’m organized. Even the samples friends and internet buddies sent to me are, for the most part, still in the plastic bags and wrappings. GAH!
The middle drawer is filled mostly with vintage perfumes. I wanted them contained in something that wasn’t open or high up, in case of earthquake. That’s how I think. Have I got my bookcases screwed to a wall stud yet, to prevent them from tipping over and crushing us to death? Oh no. But the perfumes, yes, they need to be secure.
Then I used what is supposed to be shoe and/or sweater shelving for many of the bottles. Though as you can see off to the side, not quite everything is fitting just yet. (Need to re-jigger the layout I guess.)
None of these photos include two mystery boxes. The mystery lies not in what’s in them, but rather, I have no idea where they are right now. Somewhere, oh somewhere, in the garage? Or at my mother’s house? Where are you, you boxes of mystery, you!?
Nor have I unpacked my decant bottles of various sizes. I don’t know what to do with them. How do I keep them easy to reach, but not so crowded that I can’t see what I’m reaching for? I have no idea, so instead they’ve stayed packed up, which is even less handy than if I just let my quasi-organization go to the dogs.
How do YOU organize your own collections of various things? Where do you keep it? All hints, suggestions, and possible clues as to the whereabouts of the mystery boxes will be most appreciated.
Hello Dear!
I cleaned up my stash on the holiday, too. I am not yet satisfied but I stored perfumes under the bathroom vanity cabinet in their boxes, added other shoeboxes full of bottles and decants, and have another few shoeboxes with sample messes. Then, on mirrors on top of the vanity are the ones I currently adore. Ta-da! I want a storage unit and a display unit, though.
Cait
6 Jul 06 at 10:05 pm
This collection of yours Katie looks like a genetic mutation - its grown way beyond its creators limits - this is a sci fi horror movie - I’m quite envious.
My husband would go mad - he’s the neat freak whose desk, makes the one on madebyblog look disorganised!
Heather
Heather
7 Jul 06 at 1:44 am
This post made me laugh because, as a person who a few months ago only owned about three bottles of perfume, I was noticing just this morning that I’m running out of space on the counter where I usually line up the few bottles I have–and I just ordered two more bottles this past week.
All of my samples are currently “organized” in their original packaging from the vendor or person, except for my favorites which I have in a pretty little blue bag I received as a gift. They are starting to spill out of the two decorative boxes where I thought–as an amateur–they would keep nicely. I’ve taken no less than three trips to The Container Store to find a perfect storage vessel for the vials (more are on the way), but have yet to find one I like.
Hopeless!
greeneyes
7 Jul 06 at 6:14 am
Cait, eeek! I couldn’t ever fit them under a vanity. (And I avoid keeping fragrance in the bathroom because of the temperature flux.) I’m thinking what I want to do is find a tacklebox with deep dividers, to sort them all. Shoeboxes are a great solution, frankly. Won’t work for me (my two little boys love turning everything into art, and shoeboxes are the right size for making houses and castles.)
Heather, hee! Oh no, it IS a genetic mutation! My husband is actually thrilled it’s in a closet now. Before I’d been using those plastic office organizers on wheels, which meant I could wheel the perfume around all over the house. They’re comparatively stationary now :P
greeneyes, the fact that you are making the trips to The Container Store means at least there’s hope for you :) For some vials, I use cheap-ish glass votive candle holders to store them in bunches upright. But alas, most are now in the state you saw - still in the bags, and utterly scattered. Sigh. I wish I had something like you describe, those decorative boxes, for holding it all together.
Scentzilla!
7 Jul 06 at 2:28 pm
GORGEOUS Katie,
Seriously–I am in awe!
MonkeyPosh
6 Dec 06 at 8:49 pm