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!

[Beadshopgirl]

Wow, that sounds delicious!

[pocketvenus]

If you've tried L'Artisan P's Premier Figuier, may I ask how it compares to Philosykos?

[jemly]

@pocketvenus i haven't smelled it before, but i've often seen it suggested the two are very similar. i'll go through my box of vials tomorrow and see if i have it !

[pocketvenus]

@jemlywould love to hear your thoughts if you have a sample!

[Samtian]

I haven't tried any Diptyque yet, but this is the one I've been wanting to try the most.

[Libellules]

Day 24: Vert Boheme by Tom Ford

I'd describe this as a bright, green floral, with notes reminding me of grass.

Not at all my cup of tea. 

Notes: Galbanum, Sicilian mandarin, magnolia, honeysuckle, violet leaf, gustavia superba

Spoiler

Keeping running tally so that I won't repeat!
Day 23: Sidi Bel-Abbes by Serge Lutens
Day 22: Black Orchid by Tom Ford
Day 21: Dangerous Complicity by Etat Libre d'Orange
Day 20: Plum Japonais by Tom Ford
Day 19: Rahat Loukoum by Serge Lutens
Day 18: Oud Wood by Tom Ford
Day 17: Rahat Loukoum by Serge Lutens
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   

[txcatx]

Day 24: Versace Yellow Diamond. This one is perfectly nice, and I love the bottle (I have the mini from a fairly recent promo code). It's just not a perfume that really speaks to me or leaves a strong impression, I suppose. 

Notes: Citron from Diamante, Pear Sorbet, Neroli, Bergamot, Nymphea, Freesia, Orange Blossom, Mimosa, Amber Wood, Palo Santo, Musk 

[michelleshops]

Day 24: Atelier Cologne Rose Anonyme

My notes - I got lazy and used one of my old favorites.  Floral, a little musky and maybe a little spice? I want to say it's a heady fragrance but I don't really know what that means. 

Real notes - Bergamot from Calabria, Ginger from China, Turkish Rose Essence, Turkish Rose Absolue, Incense From Somalia, Velvet Oud Accord, Patchouli from Indonesia, Papyrus from India, Benjoin from Laos.

[jemly]

@michelleshops ONE OF MY FAVORITES OF EVER ! i'll be wearing and talking about this one soon for sure 🙂

[alexasteph]

I am quite interested in trying this one, but none of the Sephora's I've been to have it in store 😩

[pocketvenus]

Day Twenty-Four: Etat Libre d'Orange's Remarkable People

After yesterday's debacle, I'm wearing a bright, cheerful and inoffensive fragrance - spicy fruity grapefruit with depth... no come hither looks!

[Alicehoopz]

Day 23: Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream

I felt the same about this as every MJ perfume I have tried: uninteresting on me. No clue why, I love MJ makeup. And it's not a bad perfume, not unpleasant and I can actually still smell it and I sprayed it on 2x today: once at 4am and again around 4pm (it's now midnight, my days are long!) - I just can't even describe this scent aside from, "what else do we got?"

[pocketvenus]

Day Twenty-Three: Serge Luten's Féminité du Bois

I had an unfortunate mishap this morning - I was absent mindedly getting ready for work and sprayed myself with the wrong perfume - Papillon's Salome. Those who are familiar with this scent will know that it is absolutely not office appropriate. It is one of the filthiest perfumes I own. Wearing it to the office would basically be like coming into work after a long night out of debauchery wearing the same clubbing outfit paired with ruined eyeliner and untamed sex hair!!

I immediately tried to scrub it off with soap and water. I even doused my skin in rubbing alcohol but the juice was truly tenacious. Then I searched my drawer desperately for something that would be strong enough to mask the Salome, yet still office appropriate. I settled on FdB - it's gentler than other SLs but still powerful. A mature, slightly spicy woods. This little gambit worked at first but about halfway through the day, the FdB became more gauzy and Salome's cumin and musk began to peek through. The horrors! Not as bad as a walk of shame but still akin to wearing a sheer top in the office without a bra! I basically spent the whole day hiding behind my desk. At least I've learned my lesson not to be so careless in the morning 😮

[Smeegle]

LOL! what is it about Salome that makes it so naughty? Can you describe the scent?

[pocketvenus]

Definitely! It is no wallflower - it projects and demands attention. The naughtiness is derived from a number of notes. There's the cumin which smells a lot like body odour (don't get me wrong, S blends it beautifully - but it is not "pretty"), and then a number of different animalistic musks: castoreum, civet. This is mixed with these big 80s florals that are really gorgeous.

99% of perfumes claim to be "sexy" but Salome is the real deal. It is completely unapologetic and smells like pure LUST.

[alexasteph]

Your description makes me want this so hard. 

[Alicehoopz]

Haha I'm glad I'm not alone!

[pocketvenus]

❤️ Sampling first is highly recommended!

[Haleyhale]

Day 21 Tocca Florence deluxe sample, its nice enough to have around smells like green florals and pears but won't be buying the full size.

Day 22 Chanel Chance (the green one) it came with 3 refill purse sprays for the light green coloured sprayer, I bought this so long ago. It's too green for me, I never wear this.

Day 23 Creed Aqua Fiorentina mmm love this one ❤ delicate and girly, yet amazing staying power. I always remember my roommate saying that this smell wishes he was dating someone so he could buy them this, lol!

[Beadshopgirl]

Day 23: Riri by Rihanna. I got this in a gift bag from Shopper's Drug Mart a while back. This smells like fruity children's bubble bath. I can't imagine anyone over the age of 13 wearing it, and that's coming from someone who loves sweet fragrances. Cloying, jam-like. Nope.

[Anonymous]

I'm out of the loop..can't remember when I posted last thanks to a nasty virus that got my lupus cranked up. When I was able I wore JLo Glow After Dark (one of my all time favorites that gets me the most compliments), Elizabeth and James Rose, Mandarin Glaciale and Rendez-Vous and Gold Leather, all from Atelier.

Today I wore Dark Rum by Malin & Goetz. I'm not good naming all the notes but it's very close to Black Opium, leaning a little masculine. I love it and already ordered a full bottle, which of course my husband doesn't understand why seeing I already have the Black Opium. I thought my answer "Because they're not the same" was suffice!