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!

[alexasteph]

@txcatx Thanks! Hopefully I'll be good to go tomorrow. I had quite a few things I needed to get done today and wasn't able to do any of it, ugh. 

[angel7594]

I hope you feel better soon, sinus trouble is the worst. 😞

[alexasteph]

@angel7594 Thanks! I get sinus infections once or twice a year, so while I'm used to it, I'm never fully prepared to deal with them. I've been diffusing lemon and eucalyptus oil trying to clear everything out, ugh.  

[pocketvenus]

I do the exact same thing w lemon+eucalyptus! Hope you niip that infection in the bud!

[alexasteph]

@pocketvenus EO's are the best, aren't they?? I love them.

[pocketvenus]

Oh yes, I ❤️ my diffuser!!

[Beadshopgirl]

Day 22: Bvlgari Omnia Cristalline. This smelled nice on paper, so I decided to give it a go.  It's pretty nondescript on me, and definitely turned sour within a short period of time. 

[txcatx]

Day 22: Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon. This is the only Elizabeth and James perfume that I actually like. It makes me want to drink Irish coffee and read a pretentious book. 

Notes:
Vanilla Bourbon. Oakwood. Tuberose.

[Beadshopgirl]

I want to try this one. 

[Titian06]

@txcatx - This is the only E&J I like too!

[Mcakes]

Day 22: Maison Margiela Replica Flower Market

Notes:
Crushed Leaves, Freesia, Sambac Jasmine, Jasmine Infusion, Tuberose Infusion, Rose from Grasse, Peach, Cedarwood, Oak Moss.

http://www.sephora.com/replica-flower-market-P385356?skuId=1593151&icid2=products%20grid:p385356

I love this scent! It is just so luxe and well rounded. Yes of course it is very floral but I feel like it has substance to it. The staying power is wonderful! 

Spoiler

Day 21: Stella McCartney POP

Day 20: Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb

Day 19: Burberry My Burberry

Day 18: Christian Louboutin Tornade Blonde

Day 17: Carven Le Parfum (LOVE)

Day 16: Tory Burch

Day 15: Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline

Day 14: Angel by Thierry Mugler

Day 13: Tom Ford Velvet Orchid

Day 12: Atelier Cologne Collection Azur Sud Magnolia

Day 11: Marc Jacobs Daisy

Day 10: Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Noir

Day 9: Burberry Brit Sheer

Day 8: Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black and White

Day 7: Stella by Stella McCartney

Day 6: Miss Dior Absolutely Blooming

Day 5: Flower by Kenzo

Day 4: Maison Margiela Replica Lipstick On

Day 3: Commodity Gold (LOVE)

Day 2: Moschino Fresh Couture

Day 1: YSL Black Opium

[StephaniLynn]

I've been failing on posting -_- 

Today I'm wearing MMM Beach Walk. I find it fitting for todays warm windy weather.

[angel7594]

Day 22: Michael Kors Wonderlust (sample)

Notes: Almond milk, Dianthus, Benzoin Siam, Sandalwood from Sri Lanka 

This smelled really odd on my skin at first, almost bitter. After 30 minutes it turned sweet. The dry down smells exactly like Viva La Juicy by Juicy Couture, which I own. For this reason, I will not purchase.

[coffeenow]

Day 22: Lalique - Reve d'Infini

This smells powdery on first application, then it smells like peaches, and then it smells like aldehydic notes.  Very meh.  

Notes: bergamot, lychee, white rose, freesia, peach, jasmine, cedar, rose vanilla, musk, sandalwood.

[ghrelin]

Day 22: Giulietta by Tocca.

This is a super floral type fragrance.  It's really light and my first thought is spring time whenever I smell it.  After the floral there are kind of fresh/woodsy/green notes.  It's not really the kind of fragrance I go for, but it reminds me of something from my childhood in a good way.

[jemly]

DAY 7: Jo Malone Dark Amber & Ginger Lily

i skipped yesterday (actual day 7) but it doesn't count, i'll start where i left off.

i adore this fragrance, one of my very favorite jo malone scents (along with blue agave & cocoa as well as ginger & nutmeg) but find it a little confounding. i can't even begin to explain what it smells of. a friend of mine told me she thought it smelled of beer while i don't agree......i get why she thought that (but don't let that put you off--it does a great disservice to the scent; i hate beer !!!). i've heard others compare it to sunscreen. i kind of get that too (likely the hint of jasmine with ginger ?) but this does not suggest 'beach' to me. it's a different kind of serene. more like one of those japanese parks in the middle of bustling tokyo that make you forget you're in the middle of a city.

i think this is extraordinarily well blended as no note is too overt or obvious (at least to my nose), and you get something that is utterly unique. the ginger is perhaps the most pronounced, along with the cardamom and waterlily. this is not herbal in its technical makeup, but if you like herbal scents as i do, this gives similar vibes.

after years of hoarding samples i now have a big bottle of this and i treasure it. some--well, most-- JM scents don't last long (they are cologne after all.........) but i find this one does. i may lose it but i get compliments on it throughout an entire day. 

notes: ginger, cardamom, pink pepper, waterlily, orchid, jasmine, rose, olibanum incense, dark amber, sandalwood, leather, and patchouli. 

previous days in spoiler

Spoiler

DIPTYQUE tam dao EDT
TOCCA colette
ISSEY MIYAKE l'eau d'issey EDT
TOM FORD santal blush
DEMETER - green tea
KEROSENE - blackmail EDP 

[Titian06]

Day 22:  Versace – Eros Pour Femme (EDP)

Notes:  Sicilian Lemon, Calabrian Bergamot, Pomegranate, Lemon Flower, Sambac Jasmine Absolute, Jasmine infusion, Peony, Sandlewood, Ambrox, Musks, Sensual Wood

There is a rather "sharp" note in this scent that is unpleasant to me.  Then I realized that Ambrox is the synthetic version of Ambergris.

Spoiler

Day 21:  Elizabeth & James – Nirvana Black

Day 20:  Giorgio Armani – Acqua di Gioia

Day 19:  Nest – Citrine

Day 18:  Nest – Midnight Fleur

Day 17:  Nest – Dahlia & Vines

Day 16:  John Varvatos – Artisan Acqua

Day 15:  Versace - Dylan Blue

Day 14:  Marc Jacobs - Daisy

Day 13:  Atelier Cologne – Figuier Ardent

Day 12:  Acqua Di Gio Pour Homme

Day 11:  Cartier – Vetiver Bleu

Day 10:  Atelier Cologne - Sud Magnolia

Day 9:  Dolce & Gabbana – Light Blue

Day 8:  Escada – Joyful

Day 7:  Escada – Born in Paradise

Day 6:  Moschino – Moschino Fresh Couture

Day 5:  Chanel - No. 5 L'eau

Day 4:  Elizabeth & James - Nirvana Bourbon

Day 3:  YSL - Black Opium

Day 2:  Pacifica - Tunisian Jasmine Lime

Day 1:  Juliette Has a Gun - Not a Perfume

[pocketvenus]

Day Twenty-Two: L'Artisan Parfumeur's Dzongkha

This is a weird one. If forced to characterize this fragrance, I'd say it's an unusual woody leather. I was expecting something fresher. It's herbaceous but in an earthy, dusty, slightly smoky way. I always thought papyrus was a fantastical note - that nothing could really smell like papyrus - but the first two notes I detected when I smelled this was old paper and leather.

[unfungirl]

I had the worst headache yesterday, so I didn't wear anything.

Picking back up, Today (Day 22) I'm wearing Pinrose Treehouse Royal. At first I didn't like this because it leads with strong floral notes, predominantly peony. But after it dried down a bit, the jasmine and fig came through. This is not my favorite pinrose scent, but I like it!

[Titian06]

@unfungirl - I'm glad you're feeling better today!

[unfungirl]

Thank you so much @Titian06!! The erratic weather always messes with my  sinuses.  🙂