Well, I'm not saying I think MFK's quality and artisanship isn't worth its price (I wouldn't know, and it would be a subjective opinion anyway if I did). It’s more the idea of owning a lot of “aspirational lifestyle” brands in general that kind of turns me off. Some brands more than others, MFK not tremendously so, but enough that I haven't really bothered with it.

I think there are droves of fragrance lovers who have explored many perfumes, and find that BR540 (or Aventus, or whatever) is remarkable, and could care less whether it’s a luxury hot-ticket item or not. But any widely popular, heavily marketed, expensive consumer good is destined to gain reputation as a status symbol, and I think there are probably a lot of people who value it over other fragrances simply because of that, which is a bit yuck.

If I’m being honest with myself, rejecting a product based on its perceived image or status without trying it is just another form of consumer tribalism, not that different from wanting a product because of it. (But it does help narrow the vast sea of choices.) Something I should think about. Thanks for your reply. :)