The Perfume Challenge

[txcatx]

Do you have a box full of perfume vials and/or a vanity covered in perfume bottles? Are you the Goldilocks of perfume, just looking for the perfect signature scent? Do you want an opportunity to post daily about how your perfume of the day smells oaky and smoky with hints of blackberry and currant, like a cigar in a whisky barrel rolling through a Mediterranean orchard on a breezy summer morning?

If you answered yes to any of the above, or you just want to hop on board for the ride, join us for a 31 days of perfume challenge starting January 1st! Some of us from the 25 days of lipstick challenge wanted to continue the fun and exploration, and since many of us have so many perfume samples, we thought this challenge would be perfect. If you don't have 31 perfumes or hate everything that doesn't smell like Meyer lemons and fresh goat cream, that's fine--we're just aiming to use the neglected perfumes we have laying around and incorporate them into our perfume rotations.

And if you want more perfume vials, there's no better time than now to take a peek at Sephora's samples section.

Edit: Anyone can join in at anytime! We're here to support, live vicariously through, and encourage everyone in their olfactory adventures!

[unfungirl]

I just got a sample of the oud wood! i'm going to try it out tomorrow, your description sounds delicious 🙂

[Libellules]

You and Jem make me want to try Oud Wood on myself lol

[pocketvenus]

Definitely give it a try - it's a very versatile oud 🙂

[Libellules]

I caved @pocketvenus!

[Libellules]

Day 17: Rahat Loukoum by Serge Lutens

Smells like cherries! Slightly medicinally when first sprayed, but dries down quickly into a really interesting almondy gourmand. 

I really, REALLY like this! 😄

Notes:

Aldehydes, almond, cherry, hawthorn, rose, heliotrope, white honey, vanilla, tonka bean, balsam, musk

Spoiler

Keeping running tally so that I won't repeat!
Day 16: Soul of the Forest by Maison Margiela
Day 15: Ombre Indigo by Olfactive Studio
Day 14: Eau de Sens by Diptyque
Day 13: Honey Oud by Floris
Day 12: Panorama by Olfactive Studio
Day 11: PHI Une Rose de Kandahar by Tauer
Day 10: Jasmin et Cigarette by Etat Libre d'Orange
Day 9: Chance EDP by Chanel
Day 8: Missed - "Eau de me" :x
Day 7: Ombre Leather by Tom Ford
Day 6: Straight to Heaven By Killian
Day 5: Bapteme du Feu by Serge Lutens
Day 4: Fir Balsam by L'Antichambre
Day 3: Borneo 1834 by Serge Lutens
Day 2: Maison Margiela Replica Dancing on the Moon
Day 1: Tobacco Vanille by Tom Ford   

[k617]

I LOVE loukhoum/Turkish delight!!

I have a sample of Loukhoum by Keiko Mecheri and it's one of the few vials I ordered based on my "perfume profile" that I really enjoyed. Gourmand and rose, what could go wrong?

[Libellules]

Ohhhh that one sounds interesting too @k617 - I'll have to order a sample!

[Smeegle]

@LibellulesWhere is this perfume sold, dear? I would like to go check it out. 🙂

[Libellules]

@Smeegle Unfortunately, it is one of those Palais Royale Bell Jar exclusives, which in the U.S. appears to be exclusive to Barneys (though you may happen upon a smaller indie shop that carries it - not sure).

Luckyscent sells samples, as does Surrender to Chance! I think I'm going to order the atomizer from Serge Lutens direct - there are a couple of other places that sell it online, but SL direct is really good about giving lots of samples :D. The atomizer works out to $190 for 2 ounces, whereas a bell jar (while pretty) is $300 for 2.5 ounces.

[lyravega]

I like the name! I used to like rahat loukoum, too. But, I can't deal with it any more. Way too sweet! 😛

All you need now is some Arabic coffee to go with it! 😉

All joking aside, that bottle is stunning! And, I wonder if it really smells like cherry rose rahat loukoum...? Mmmm....

@Libellules

[Libellules]

@lyravega I'm actually not familiar with rahat loukoum the Turkish Delight :D. I kind of want to try it, just because the fragrance was so divine! But I do agree with you that Turkish Delight tends to be very sweet (too sweet for me personally).

I really wish the bottle was widely available! I'm sure that it was a boutique exclusive, very limited edition. Etc..

I'm going to likely break the rules of this challenge and re-wear Rahat Loukoum tomorrow or the next day! I'm considering a purchase of the atomizer, and want to analyze it, so I should have a better answer then. Currently for this challenge, unless it is a tried and true fragrance - I'm only testing them on my wrists (and again, I have one nostril that is congested UGH), so at not full strength I really don't recall picking up on the rose. But it wasn't a linear gourmand - it had more depth (I love Serge Lutens for this <3). I could DEFINITELY smell the cherries, and I could definitely smell the almond, but this isn't an overpowering scent - it is a very delicate gourmand, all things considering. When I sat there and inhaled a whiff - I could pick up on the cherry and almond and fir balsam - but I know there is more!

At least - that's how it was on my skin :D.

[lyravega]

It sounds so friggin' good, delightful really, @Libellules ! You definitely make me want to get me a sample of it asap and try it for myself! Yum!

If I was ever to found a scent that smells like rose-almond rahat loukoum and Arabic coffee... I'd be all over it!!!

[Libellules]

@lyravega I can't get it out of my mind, so forgive me!

Maybe you can layer it over a little bit of cafe rose? 😛

I'm on the hunt for a coffee scent - that would be divine!

[heartsmyface]

I'll 'deal' with that for you! 😉  the Turkish delight I mean!   Yum! 

[liv545]

Where would one find a sample of this? It sounds delightful. I'm a super fan of gourmands!!

[Libellules]

@liv545 Luckyscent has it and I believe Surrender to Chance :). 

[Mcakes]

What a gorgeous bottle 😮 

[Libellules]

I wish that I could buy that bottle! I think it's an LE version

[michelleshops]

That bottle is stunning!  Sounds yum.  Great find!

[Libellules]

I wish that that version of the bottle was available for purchase @michelleshops! I believe that it must have been one of their LE boutique exclusives. Bah.

But, I most definitely want a bottle of this O.O

[txcatx]

Day 17: Atelier Cologne Pomélo Paradis. At first, this scent just smelled like really ripe citrus, but I love it now that it mellowed out and I can get some of the floral notes.

Notes:
Pink Pomelo, Calabrian Mandarin, Blackcurrant Bud, Moroccan Orange Blossom, Bulgarian Rose Essence, Mint, Haitian Vetiver, Tuscan Iris, Amber.