I found the conventional method of purification, i.e. battling, to be an enjoyable experience. Granted, MT. Battle Level 10 runs got boring after a while, but it was a good way to get some training done on some of my other stuff, and the purified ones eventually got all that experience too, so it really wasn't a big deal.
In XD, I will admit that I used the purify chambers for pretty much all of them though. I guess if you had the extra Time Flutes or didn't have the time, you might as well have used them, but the regular way wasn't so bad. Personally, I never bought scents either. Wasn't really using the money for anything, but "waste not" is one of my main policies, so, yeah.