I've seen several threads where folks on basenotes talk about 12-14 sprays. There's even one thread where a guy talks about 40-50 sprays...and is SERIOUS.
It seems shocking, but let's think about it for a second. These people are at the mecca of fragrance obsession (basenotes, fragrantica, etc). You're going to see these outliers on these sites more than you'll see them anywhere else.
Those people must have lots of stock in, or be representatives for perfume companies...they tell you to spray tons so you use it up and buy more!
if any frag took 40-50 sprays to work i'd be pissed off! even more than 3 sprays would annoy me. I didn't pay for alcohol, I paid for the scent!