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!

[Titian06]

@modernwarpaint - I love Pomelo Paradis and Orange Sanguine!

[pocketvenus]

@Titian06@modernwarpaint- I also liked Orange Sanguine. So realistic!

[howconnie]

Oh thank you I'll look into those. 

[pocketvenus]

@howconnie- Maybe give L’Artisan’s Histoire d’Orangers a shot?

[howconnie]

I like that fragrance house,  I have three of their fragrances and I love the quality, don't know where they're sold lately. 

[pocketvenus]

I know - they used to be carried at the Nordstrom in Toronto but haven't been there for awhile now 😞 I haven't seen them outside of specialist boutiques since.

[Titian06]

@howconnie - Sailing Day wasn't beautiful on me!  I could barely smell it.  At least you could smell something--even if it was seafood!  (ha, ha)  😄

[howconnie]

😂 he he he 

[pocketvenus]

Today I’m trying Amouage’s Myths Woman. Twisted Lily was kind enough to send me a manufacturer’s sample which looks to me to be about 2ml. I will be honest, I do not think it is a fragrance most people on BIC would enjoy wearing – chiefly because I suspect it will remind people of an “old lady” scent. I’ve sniffed all my samples and I think I’m starting to understand the house style. To be honest, I myself would prefer something rougher, postmodern or deconstructionist. But I’m enjoying wearing MW because of its emotional depth.

Like Journey Man, the notes shift continually during the first hour – one keeps smelling something new in it. It begins with a deep and vegetal galbanum. Less cutting and feral than Opus VII and more like sinking ones hands into moist soil. The opening rapidly segues into the scent’s floral notes with the galbanum providing a subtle edge. The notes pyramid states narcissus, which to be honest, I don’t know what that smells like, but I can pick out a hint of lilac, then carnations. It evokes the sense of flowers after it’s rained – there’s something cool and almost stony about them. It remains somewhat aloof. The scent then takes a turn into more musky, indolic territory and it's the most difficult part of the fragrance. This stage eventually fades into a supple, floral leather.

I read a review about MW that described the scent as a faded starlet or something to that effect. I think that’s an excellent description. It definitely is a sombre scent. The only other scent that has this sort of emotional tenor for me is Malle’s Le Parfum de Thérèse. There’s maybe some regret with LPDT, but it’s softened with a wistfulness and is incredibly sensual. MW is more jaded. It's beautiful, but it's the inaccessible beauty from a woman who is determined to never again shed futile tears over her heartbreak again. I honestly can’t see a younger person pulling it off. It makes me feel like a preteen tottering about in her mother’s Manolos. I love wearing LPDT on occasion and can hold my own with it, but I simply can’t carry MW. This would be stunning on someone more mature, like 40s+. Think Edith Piaf having a solo smoke backstage after performing La Foule.

[Titian06]

@pocketvenus - I may have to try this one:  "This would be stunning on someone more mature, like 40s+."

[howconnie]

Oh this sounds so beautiful have to try it

[modernwarpaint]

"Think Edith Piaf having a solo smoke backstage after performing La Foule."  

Love this description  🙂

[pocketvenus]

My next Amouage sample is Journey Man. I loved the notes: Sichuan pepper, Bergamot, Cardamom, Neroli Bigarade, Juniper Berries, Incense, Geraniol, Tobacco Leaves, Ambrox, Cyriol, Tonka Bean Abstract

JM opens with a rich and bristling mix of spices that smooths out in the dry down. It smells fantastic, luxe and a touch boozy. It’s also very, very butch. I have no problem wearing men’s niche fragrances as they tend to lean more unisex and I generally don't have gendered associations with fragrance, but JM immediately conjured up for me the image of a hirsute beefcake with dark eyes and a thick, perfectly shaved beard dressed in a bespoke tailored suit. I felt like it didn't match at all with my clothes and general appearance. A butch woman could definitely pull it off though, I can picture a couple girlfriends of mine rocking it.

[howconnie]

Yes, that’s a manly mans fragrance 

[Titian06]

@pocketvenus - I read the notes and thought how nice these perfume sounds.  Then I read your description and lol'd!  😄  I'm definitely not a butch woman, but I'm also far from your typical feminine woman too.  I tend to gravitate more towards men's or unisex scents...but butch?

[pocketvenus]

@Titian06- I am so down with wearing "masculine" perfumes and clothes and what not but I was like, I am not hairy enough for this 😛

[pocketvenus]

Finally received some Amouage samples in the post 🙂

Today I'm trying Opus VII and I'm crying, it's so good. It's classified as a leather but it's so much more than that. The opening is a blast of earthy galbanum, a note that I love. This is quickly followed by a captivating melange of burning smoke, bristling spices and an animalistic growl. Fenugreek, cardamom and cumin shift and smolder in the darkness. Everytime I bring my nose to my wrist, I smell something different. Anyway, I just put it on but I had to write about it. I'm looking forward to trying more scents from this house!

top: Galbanum, Pink Pepper, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Fenugreek

heart: Agarwood Smoke, Patchouli, Ambrox, Leather, Ambergris
base: Costus Root, Muscone, Sandalwood, Olibanum, Cypriol

[Titian06]

@pocketvenus - This sounds really nice!

[modernwarpaint]

@pocketvenus - did you order samples online or get them in a store?  I've never tried anything from this house before, nor have I seen it in a store.

[pocketvenus]

@modernwarpaint, I picked up some samples during the Twisted Lily flash sale. They aren't as widely distributed as some of the other houses - I don't think they're owned by one of the big beauty conglomerates? I stumbled across them in a specialty boutique in Toronto.

[Titian06]

Today I tried MM Replica By the Fireplace.  OMGosh!  Now I know why everyone raves about this one!  I've had absolutely no luck with any of the MMs, but this one is awesome--it really does smell like a wood fireplace!  I was absolutely amazed at how spot-on it is.  I was also surprized by how long the scent lasted too.  I'm lucky if a scent lasts 1 hr (usually closer to 30 min.).  This one lasted most of the morning.  Hopefully by next winter I can afford a full size.  😄

Top Notes: Pink pepper, orange blossom, cloves
Mid Notes: Chestnut, guaiac wood, juniper
Base Notes: Vanilla, peru balsam, cashmeran