topic Re: My Amazing Grace Observation in Beauty

My Amazing Grace Observation

Goodie2shoes — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 15:24:08 GMT

Amazing grace was my signature fragrance for years and I purchased it from QVC. At Christmas time I bought something from Ulta (can't remember what at this time, I'm sure it's age related) but I received a free gift of a 4oz bottle of amazing grace body firming emulsion and guess what ? it was the original scent. It smelled so good and last all day. I compared it to a 32 oz bottle of amazing grace that I have had for about 4 months and the smell was totally different. Now 4 months in my opinion is not long and the scent should have been the same wonderful scent that I had worn for years. Could it be that Coty provides the original scents to the free standing stores and the bulk selling scents in the watered down version to QVC ? Just my observation and maybe it was just for Christmas to increase sales.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

itsmetoo — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 15:40:15 GMT

@Goodie2shoes wrote:
Amazing grace was my signature fragrance for years and I purchased it from QVC. At Christmas time I bought something from Ulta (can't remember what at this time, I'm sure it's age related) but I received a free gift of a 4oz bottle of amazing grace body firming emulsion and guess what ? it was the original scent. It smelled so good and last all day. I compared it to a 32 oz bottle of amazing grace that I have had for about 4 months and the smell was totally different. Now 4 months in my opinion is not long and the scent should have been the same wonderful scent that I had worn for years. Could it be that Coty provides the original scents to the free standing stores and the bulk selling scents in the watered down version to QVC ? Just my observation and maybe it was just for Christmas to increase sales.

@Goodie2shoes

I have often wondered the exact same thing.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

sunshine 919 — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 15:46:48 GMT

This is an interesting topic. I never had the pleasure of having the original Tova fragrance. From reading the forums it was stated that she sold her co. too. Everyone was saying the fragrance is different. I purchased the solid thinking it would be ok. Well the scent does not last when you wear it and now my solid has no fragrance at all. I cannot believe it.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

sunshine 919 — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 15:50:22 GMT

@itsmetoo wrote:
@Goodie2shoes wrote:
Amazing grace was my signature fragrance for years and I purchased it from QVC. At Christmas time I bought something from Ulta (can't remember what at this time, I'm sure it's age related) but I received a free gift of a 4oz bottle of amazing grace body firming emulsion and guess what ? it was the original scent. It smelled so good and last all day. I compared it to a 32 oz bottle of amazing grace that I have had for about 4 months and the smell was totally different. Now 4 months in my opinion is not long and the scent should have been the same wonderful scent that I had worn for years. Could it be that Coty provides the original scents to the free standing stores and the bulk selling scents in the watered down version to QVC ? Just my observation and maybe it was just for Christmas to increase sales.
@Goodie2shoes
I have often wondered the exact same thing.

I do purchase all of my Philosphy from Saphora. I noticed that the fragrance does last. I have the roller ball amazing grace that I carry in my purse. I have had it a while and there is only a tiny bit left and it smells as good as it did the day I purchased. The fragrance of amazing grace is truly amazing.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

Ms49r — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 16:07:25 GMT

I, too, have observed the same thing. When I was in Ulta a month ago, I was happily surprised at the wonderful, full fragrance of the Amazing Grace body firming emulsion. The fragrance was the Amazing Grace of old not the current Q version.

I used to always get compliments on my fragrance but since Coty bought the brand the scent was much different and the compliments stopped. I think you have a valid point, I don't know how else to explain the difference in scents between the Q and Ulta.

I am a Philosophy girl, when the formulation of When Hope is not Enough serum was changed, a little sticker was placed on the box from the Q stating 'New Formulation'. I compared the ingredients on my new and old bottles, saw the changes and still love the serum. This was a few years ago.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

Katcat1 — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 16:32:54 GMT

I purchased Amazing Grace body lotion back in December from QVC. I thought it had a very strong scent and I did not care for. When these big companies take over they cut corners using cheaper ingredients and you can smell it! I remember AG being very pretty, pleasant smell and not in your face scent. I am now hooked on Lemon Custard and Vanilla Fig body lotions. Happy St. Patrick's Day for everyone observing.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

2blonde — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 16:40:34 GMT

Hmmm. You girls may be onto something. I need to make a trip to my Ulta!

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

panda1234 — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 19:58:58 GMT

I have said this before, I think the Q gets the watered down version and that is how they can sell it at a low price. I buy mine from Ulta or Macy's, no problem there.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

KCDiva — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 21:04:08 GMT

I have been wearing Amazing Grace for years. Since Cristina Carlino was On QVC. I always bought spray fragrance and loved it. I am very sensitive to scents so it was not overwhelming but people always compliment me on my fragrance. Then I noticed it had changed and I had to but EDP instead of spray fragrance. I buy it at different stores so I don't know if the scent has been diluted . I still wear it along with Pure Grace. It doesn't smell the same though.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

qvcaddition — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 02:04:47 GMT

@Goodie2shoes

I just sent back the whole kit of AG. FIVE or Six pieces I layer after shower. Scent did not last one hour witha the layers. For 90.00, no way.

I think the Q puts old stuff on TSV. Going to try it from Macy,s.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

Venezia — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 03:12:38 GMT

Last September, a friend was visiting here from England. She and I both love AG, but I was telling her that it had changed since Coty bought the company.

I had a new bottle of the eau de parfum that I had just received from QVC (on A/D) and I couldn't smell anything, other than a rather chemical smell, when first applied. So I asked her to smell it. Same thing; she couldn't smell anything on my wrist, so she tried it on herself. Nope, nothing!

A few days later, we were in the local Ulta and I checked out their tester of the AG eau de parfum. I couldn't believe it; it smelled like the original, so I had her test it and she thought the same.

We had quite a discussion about why there was a difference between the "perfume" I was getting from QVC and the one we had just tested in Ulta. In fact, later that evening, we could both still smell the AG on our wrists.

I would rather pay full price and get what I pay for, than to pay less and wonder what I'm getting in that bottle of supposed "perfume".

(ETA: And if QVC isn't aware of what's going on, they should be. There have been plenty of comments over the past couple of years about this subject and we can't all be imagining it.)

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

segrl21 — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 04:24:46 GMT

At one time ordered often form their website and their 16oz bottles smelled strong compared to QVC and even their toilette spray lasted long then QVC perfume. It could be imagined but do believe it smells stronger and lasts longer if you buy in a standing store or off of their website.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

jubilant — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 11:05:03 GMT

The last time I bought Amazing Grace I decided to add the body emulsion and still no fragrance a half hour later. I did buy mine at a higher end store (Von Maur) and still no fragrance.

Has anyone here ever found a dupe for it? I would love to find one.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

hookedonq — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 12:18:13 GMT

I am having the same experience! Recently purchased the large bottle of AG Firming lotion and the fragrance is not quite the same as it has been for many years. I will go back to buying the smaller bottles at Ulta and hope to find the original. Ugh, so sad.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

Goodie2shoes — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 13:54:56 GMT

Glad to see I'm not the only one that has noticied the difference.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

jubilant — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 14:21:04 GMT

At first I thought it was just me and maybe I had just gotten "too used to it" but I buy it for my mother every Christmas and I don't smell it on her either.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

Venezia — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 19:52:32 GMT

@jubilant wrote:
At first I thought it was just me and maybe I had just gotten "too used to it" but I buy it for my mother every Christmas and I don't smell it on her either.

That's the first thing they'll tell you - that you've become "nose blind" to it. Not true. When people I know ask why I'm no longer wearing "that lovely perfume you used to wear", I know it's not just me.

The very same thing happened when QVC bought Tova's company and changed her "Signature" and "Tova Nights" perfumes. The security guard where I worked loved that scent on me and one day said "You don't wear that wonderful perfume any more." I said, yes, I did and that I was wearing it that day! He said "No...you're not" and said he missed it.

There were endless threads at that from longtime users of Tova's perfumes, but all we kept being told was, nothing had changed, it was a result of "menopausal women's hormones" changing. Can you imagine? (And was my male security guard menopausal?)

Whatever our various ages, we're not stupid.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

fluffysmom — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 22:37:27 GMT

I'll try Ulta. I'm still crushed the AG was murdered by Coty. The stuff sold on the Phil.com also has no scent.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

gail n — Sat, 25 Mar 2017 02:50:04 GMT

Everytime I'm at Ulta I give the AG sample (spray fragrance and moisturizer) another try hoping that it has the original scent but the smell is just horrible. Musky, musty (reminds me of old cat urine) and with a chemical/plastic smell--there is not one recognizable organic scent in this fragrance. For me it's not even that the "scent" doesn't last long it's that the actual scent is so horrible. AG was my signature fragrance for about 10 years before Coty bought it. It is such a shame Coty ruined such a beautiful fresh fragrance.

Re: My Amazing Grace Observation

homedecor1 — Sat, 25 Mar 2017 04:08:41 GMT

@Goodie2shoes

I agree with your observation! I bought the body wash & small perfume from Q and then I bought a smaller size while I was at home to keep with my toiletries there from Ulta.

Oh oh my goodness, I got compliments galore (as I always did before). The scent of both the perfume lasted all day.

I am of the same feeling, the formulation is different. In fact, I recently bought Hope in A Jar at Sephora and it seems to have better texture (less watery).

Im in my mind comparing buying Hellmans brand name mayo to a store brand yuck! I only buy name brand foods because the store brand never seems to taste the same to me! And I won't cut back on tried & true brands - always consistent!

I stopped all my AD from Q it's worth it to buy at either Ulta or Sephora even though most philosophy items are the same price but not "super sized".