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!

[michelleshops]

Days 28 - 30: Nada, I was sick and lazy

My notes - I copied some of you guys and caught some kind of bug.  I'm feeling way better but no nasal delights.

Day 31: E&J Nirvana Rose

My notes - I thought I grabbed the Nirvana Bourbon so this was a surprise!  It's a heavier fragrance to me, lots of vetiver with a great rose dry down.  I love all the E&J perfumes and this is no exception. It makes me want to hunker down in a cozy snowed in cabin and snuggle.

Real notes: Rose de Mai, Geranium, Vetiver.

[JenniferOhJenny]

Day 31 - Philosophy marshmallow body lotion underneath Maison Margiela By the Fireplace. So basically I'm a s'more.

(I *do* like the By the Fireplace kind of a lot, though. I have two samples of it that I will happily use up.)

[Alicehoopz]

I can think of so many men who would go nuts for a "s'more" smell, but be warned, they'll try to take you camping 😂😂😂

[unfungirl]

Day 31: CLEAN reserve sueded oud

This is nice! It's a bit woody due to  the patchouli and amber, but i also smell the jasmine and magnolia. CLEAN fragrances tend to fade fast, but if this has staying power i might actually purchase this one!

[Geminichilde]

Day 30: Lalique Fleur Universelle 1900

"TOP NOTES

Pink Pepper
Rum
Cardamom

HEART NOTES

Everlasting Flower
Myrrh
Cinnamon

BASE NOTES

Patchouli
Tonka Bean
Lorenox"

This smells SO good! Big burst of boozy rum that disappeared quickly to patchouli. Hours later I can still smell it spicy and sweet, lots of tonka bean. I requested samples from the company and they only sent one vial of this, so sad its $300, more than I care to spend right now.

Day 29: Dior Addict

"... top notes that blend Mandarin Leaf with Tunisian Orange Blossom.
Intense and vibrant, it reveals a powerful heart of Jasmine Sambac Absolute that blossoms with soft femininity and sensuality. The base unfurls in the deep and exquisite warmth of Bourbon Vanilla..."

Oldie but goodie, jasmine and vanilla.

Spoiler

Day 28: Nothing...skipped day
Day 27: Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche
Day 26:  Jo Malone Red Roses + Pomegranate Noir
Day 25: Paco Rabanne Olympea
Day 24: Demeter Gin & Tonic + Paperback
Day 23: Penhaligon's Blasted Bloom
Day 22: Penhaligon's Vaara
Day 21: Narciso Rodriguez Musc for Her
Day 20: Jo Malone Sorrel & Lemon Thyme
Day 19: Moschino Fresh Couture
Day 18: Penhaligon`s Blasted Heath
Day 17: Valentina Oud Assoluto
Day 16: Aerin Evening Rose
Day 15: Degree Shower Fresh (missed day!)
Day 14: Ramon Monegal Lovely Day
Day 13: Alexandre J White Leather
Day 12: Rupaul Glamazon
Day 11: Lancome La Vie Es Belle
Day 10: Jo Malone Nashi Blossom
Day 9: Penhaligon's Quercus
Day 8: L'Artisan Parfumeur Nuit de Tubéreuse
Day 7: Besame Cosmetics Decades of Fragrance 1960
Day 6: Besame Cosmetics Decades of Fragrance 1950
Day 5: Besame Cosmetics Decades of Fragrance 1940
Day 4: Besame Cosmetics Decades of Fragrance 1930
Day 3: Besame Cosmetics Decades of Fragrance 1920
Day 2: Besame Cosmetics Decades of Fragrance 1910
Day 1: Cartier Baiser Vole

[Alicehoopz]

Day 30: clean cashmere - I knew I had another of these clean vials somewhere! And this one i did enjoy, though I find I always like scents with the word "cashmere" in them. I'm not sure what cashmere is supposed to smell like but I can confidently say that it doesn't smell like goat.

[Beadshopgirl]

Day 29: spent the day in my pyjamas and didn't wear perfume!

Day 30: YSL Mon Paris. Really like the opening on this one, but disappointed in the drydown. Why so much patchouli, YSL???? Why? I don't want to smell like the unwashed pseudo-hippies in the kombucha aisle at Whole Foods. 

*disclaimer: Apologies if I offend the unwashed, hippies, or kombucha. You do you. 😜

[txcatx]

That's so weird how perfumes react so differently on different people. Mon Paris makes me smell like a berry tart all day!

[alexasteph]

It's very sweet on me as well! 

[Beadshopgirl]

Wow! I don't smell any berry at all! 

[Haleyhale]

Day 30 Tom Ford Orchid Soleil (sample vial) 

Classy, as Tom Fords fragrances are always, hint of warmth, I almost smell a bit of coconut on opening even though it's not one of the notes. Not something I would buy a whole bottle of, but I'll keep adding the free samples when they're available 

[Seymore3]

Day 30-Tom Ford black orchid.

[pocketvenus]

Day Thirty: Etat Libre d'Orange's Eau de Protection

A brooding, dramatic, ultra femme rose. Dark and a touch spicy, with heft. Never overly sweet or cloying. I just wish the bottle didn't replace their logo with a cliched tribal dragon!

[Libellules]

I actually like the look of this dragon :x

[pocketvenus]

You might like the scent too 🙂

[Samtian]

Day 30-  L’Artisan Parfumeur- La Chasse Aux Papillons

Notes:
Bergamot, Madarin, Pink Pepper, Linden Blossom, Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Lemon Tree Blossom, Tuberose, Ylang Ylang.

I'm torn on this one. I kind of like it. There is a note I can't identify that I'm not fond of. But I still kind of like the scent as a whole, but not enough to spend 95 on. If they had travel sizes I'd consider getting that size. 

http://www.sephora.com/la-chasse-aux-papillons-P375932?skuId=1854876&icid2=l%27artisan_thecollection...

[blackkitty2014]

Jan 30: Guerlain Terracotta Le Parfume EDT: I wish i have a roller or sample of it to bring along especially when going on a beach vacation.

[alexasteph]

Day 30: Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Rose

I am not a huge fan of Viva La Juicy, but I really like the variations. Since my brain isn't working too well this morning, I'm having a hard time describing it on my own, so here is the provided description:

Celebrate with Viva la Juicy Rosé, a light-hearted toast to the forever vibrant Viva girl. This effervescent fragrance pops with fizzy citrus perfection and sparkles in a dew of jasmine and honey-like pink blossoms for a dreamy scent that is kissed by the glow of sensual amber. 

The scent opens with the fresh fruity notes of Italian mandarin and William pear intertwining with soft, dewy jasmine petals. At the heart, rose centifolia blooms into a honey-like floralcy next to white peony and jasmine sambac. Accented with decadent ambrox, sensual orris absolu, and warm benzoin, the fragrance leaves the Viva Rosé girl with an air of mischievous sophistication. 

Notes: 
Italian Mandarin, William Pear, Jasmine Petals, Rose Centifolia Absolute, White Peony, Jasmine Sambac, Orris Absolute, Benzoin, Ambrox. 
Style: 
Sparkling. Charming. Exuberant.

This is nice. I like it. Maybe not full size worthy, but maybe rollerball worthy if they didn't always double it with the original. 

Last day tomorrow! 

Spoiler

Day 1: Alien by Muglar (eh)
Day 2: Estee Lauder Modern Muse Chic (yay!)
Day 3: Atelier Orange Sanguine (yay!)
Day 4: D&G Dolce (yay!)
Day 5: Pinrose Merry Maker (yay!)
Day 6: TokyoMilk Dark Pretty Rotten 33 (no)
Day 7: Fresh snow and a frozen nose
Day 8: Lavender and Peppermint Essential Oils
Day 9: YSL Mon Paris (yay!)
Day 10: Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream (eh)
Day 11: British TV shows
Day 12: Lancôme La Vie Est Belle (yay!)
Day 13: Pinrose Tambourine Dreamer (yay!)
Day 14: Balenciaga B. Skin (double yay!)
Day 15: Pinrose Secret Genius (yay!)
Day 16: Pinrose Pinrose + Secret Genius (yay!)
Day 17: Jose Maran Joy/Sweet Holly (yay!)
Day 18: Chloe Eau du Parfum (yay!)
Day 19: Dior J'adore (yay!)
Day 20: YSL Black Opium (yay!)
Day 21: Elizabeth and James Nivana White (double yay!)
Day 22: Nothing
Day 23: Marc Jacobs Dot (eh)
Day 24: Versace Eros Pour Femme EDP (no, unfortunately)
Day 25: BVLGARI Omnia Paraiba (eh)
Day 26: Commodity Mimosa (double yay!)
Day 27: Atelier Vanille Insensée (yay!) to mask MM Lazy Sunday Morning (100% NOPE)
Day 28: Paco Rabanne 1 Million (double yay!)
Day 29: Giorgio Armani Si (eh-yay)

[AMHWKI]

Day 30:  Maison Margiela Replica, Flower Market.

Love!

Days 28 and 29 - lazy and at soccer tournament with son so didn't wear anything but scented body butter.

[txcatx]

Day 30: Commodity Mimosa. Give me anything that has citrus, jasmine, and tonka bean, please. If Demeter's Fuzzy Navel is the perfume that defines my college years, then Mimosa represents my twenties. I love this one, but need a little more complexity. I need to try this one mixed with another Commodity fragrance and create, like, a craft cocktail of a perfume.

Also, I was thrilled that in this case, Mimosa referred to the ubiquitous brunch drink, not the flowering tree.I would probably like Jo Malone's Mimosa and Cardamom better if it were mimosa the drink and not the flower.

Notes:
Blood Orange, Mandarin, Grapefruit, Black Pepper, Sheer Jasmine, Geranium, Tonka Bean, Heliotrope, Ylang Ylang.

[Samtian]

I love Commodity.