AIBU to think this is a bit rude/ cheeky?

Reminds me of a cartoon I once saw - a granny tells a grandpa 'oh, here comes the guy called the Exorcist - he came to stay once and all our spirits were gone'.

Don't know why you quoted me, I offered no opinion about the guest's actions. I asked what's the point in a perfume collection for display.

I wouldn't touch the belongings of someone else in their guest room but nor would I be surprised if a guest thought they could use things I had left in there.

It was rude to assume the perfumes were fair game. I was brought up that a woman's scent was very personal, expensive and precious, often something gifted by a loved one and not something to go helping yourself to. If she had asked first then of course but IMO she was in the wrong.

"Put out" is not the same as "behind the closed door of a cabinet."

I pride myself on a clean, comfortable, well-appointed guest room. That doesn't mean that people staying over are to be opening doors and drawers that I haven't pointed out as available to them. What kind of person does that?

Must be familiar to you.

I don't. However I do want guests to feel at home and put out a range of toiletries for them to use.

Not really. I don't know much about perfume so I wouldn't know which ones were particularly expensive. Definitely wouldn't consider that a quick spreay of any perfume was using a particularly expensive amount of it.

I mean I wouldn't have used the perfume anyway because I never wear any but I still don't think the woman did anything wrong

Oh come on! Who on earth provides pefumes for guests to use?

Yes,she was weird and cheeky, OP.

Blaming the victim?

So if the OP kept her coin collection or Grandpa's war medals or other valuables in a case in the guest room, it would be OK if guest helped herself to those, as well? If her Hermes scarves are in the closet, guests should whip one on?

Not everyone buys their perfume at Poundland. Some of mine are very expensive and a couple are bespoke from sessions at perfume studios in Paris. They are not for others' consumption and surely any decent person would not open a cabinet.

Toothpaste left out in the open at the basin, or shampoo in the shower, are like soap in the lavatory; basics that are expected to be used by all comers. Expensive perfume is more akin to jewelry or clothing or handbags.

Would you not even consider the price differential between shampoo/toothpaste and perfume? As a guest, it should be absolutely clear to you that shower gel, shampoo, toothpaste, tissues - all relatively low cost items - have been provided for your convenience. Expensive perfume is clearly in a different category and it's rather crass of you not to understand this, particularly if it's in a display cabinet. If any of my guests doused themselves in my Chanel No. 5 without asking first, it would be the last invitation they'd receive.

Well, it's sort-of your fault for storing them visibly in the gust room. Don't you have space anywhere else? Store them away from guests, for goodness sake!

Beyond rude - even if they were paying guests who booked a stay in your accommodation. But even if it were the case, like in a hotel - you pay extra for the minibar on display in your glass door fridge.

That’s just not true. A spare room is one that isn’t slept in by the family but is probably used as a junk room. The OP specified it’s a guest room and in my circle that an en-suite room that is specifically set aside for guests and toiletries, towels, often books etc are all provided for the comfort of who is staying. Perfume could absolutely fall into this category.

If it’s a junk room then I’d expect things in there to be there for storage purposes and it’s different.

Surprised it took so long for a Hyacinth reference.

Do you rummage through cabinets and drawers in the homes of friends? Might want to warn them.

I would maybe have admired your collection but wouldn't dream of using any of your perfume, but at the same time I get why she might have thought it was ok.

Maybe move them elsewhere to stop any confusion.

Goodness me: the ghost of Mrs Bucket has arisen on Halloween!

Yes it's using a bit of something they have lots of. That's not the same as taking an item of clothing.

I can see it might be a bit annoying for OP. I'm unconvinced it's a significant faux pas or particularly cheeky.

They are on display in the guest room and you have so many that a few spritzes isn’t going to make much difference. I’m usually the first to call people cheeky, but when toiletries are left in a guest room it’s fair to think they are there for all to use

You think it's ok to reach in behind a closed cabinet door and help yourself to a host's belongings?

I'd have had all tops off for a smell (I'm a big perfume fan) & would have held & admired the bottles but no way would I have used any without asking.

I do think it’s cheeky, in that id be ashamed to do it myself.

However, given her reaction, I think she didn’t intend to be rude and it was just an error of judgement.

Wait and see how hospitable she is when they (hopefully) invite you back before making a final judgement.

I'm really surprised that anyone would think 15 bottles of perfume, in a display case, would be there 'for guests to use'. It would be such an astoundingly odd thing to place specifically for guests. When we stay with family, there are coats and other clothing stored in the spare room wardrobe, but I somehow don't assume these are there for my use, it seems far more likely that the family are using the space for storage as well as for guests - the perfume seems pretty similar to me.

I don't wear perfume but normally wouldn't someone that has multiple bottles in use, especially expensive ones, store them somewhere dark? I would have thought only the empty bottles (or maybe scents you didn't like but did like the bottle) would on display in a glass cabinet. So I think it's just a faux-pas/misunderstanding thinking things in the spare room were for use. If she's a generally nice person I wouldn't have thought twice about it or her remark. I'm surprised you didn't twig it earlier if you registered that she smelled lovely and differently every day

They were literally on display in the guest bedroom, which to me would seem there for that exact purpose of being used by guests.

Not "not a toiletry" but not a particularly personal one. No more than shampoo or toothpaste in a bathroom. I would use those without a second thought if they were in the room I was invited to use.