Many people know how to buy, but few know how to manage. Once a collection grows, if you can't remember the source and price, it's as good as not collected at all.
For each piece of material, it is recommended to record four things: source (who, when, where), scent description (the keywords you smell), appearance photos (including oil lines and weight), and documentation (receipts or appraisal records). With these four in place, the piece truly "belongs to you," and there is evidence to check later when you sell.
The form doesn't matter; consistency matters most. Some people use spreadsheet software, others hand-draw in a leather notebook. The key is to record each time you acquire something—don't save it all up to fill in at year-end. Memory deceives, and the scent impression at the time is especially easy to fade.
Once the archives build up, you can see at a glance which production regions you prefer and which price range feels most comfortable, so you won't buy blindly next time. When you encounter duplicate or near-identical material, you can also rationally decide whether to keep or sell, avoiding more clutter as you stockpile.
Half the fun of collecting is in buying, and half is in sorting out what you've bought.
There are many stories on the market but few documents. An archive that clearly records the source is more useful than a hundred claims about origins from a seller. For material with uncertain source, first come for a public-welfare appraisal and file the conclusion in the archive as well.
Explain your specific situation clearly, and we will give the corresponding judgment and advice—sourcing, personal use, and appraisal are all accepted.
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