In this video I’m basically asking the question a lot of you have been saying in the comments: have flankers gone a little too far? I break down what a flanker actually is (a different version of an existing fragrance—more intense, lighter, or a “note spotlight” twist), and I remind everyone that flankers aren’t new. I use Guerlain Shalimar as the perfect example: decades of releases, limited editions, and collector-style bottles. I love Shalimar, but even I can admit the sheer volume can get overwhelming—especially when some versions feel more like collector bait than a clear “need.” Then I get into Dior Poison, because it’s a classic case of flankers drifting away from the original DNA. The original Poison was that heavy, ambery, molasses-plum, slightly smoky vibe, but many of the flankers land in totally different olfactive groups. For me, Pure Poison is my favorite because I’m a big white-floral person, and it’s clean, soapy, elegant, and still sexy in a designer way—though reformulations are a real disappointment. Finally, I talk about the “pyramid” problem (flankers of flankers) with Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male—nearly 50 versions is just… why?—and I touch on the niche world jumping on the extrait bandwagon, like Parfums de Marly’s $550 Extrait collection. My takeaway: I’m not anti-flanker, but I am pro-purpose. If it’s just marketing and price hikes, we as consumers need to be picky.