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!

[moxiepancakes]

I've had a chance to work my way through all my Libertine fragrance samples and found almost all of the wearable. My favorite one is Smoked Bloom the osmanthus is so decadent and long wearing I will be ordering a full size bottle eventually. Sweet grass was a most enjoyable oddball fragrance for me the notes of cinnamon later in wear were comforting. Soft Woods and Troubled Spirits were enjoyable and had good wear time. Eros fig was also nice but shorter lived. Sex and jasmine was wearable but not really my style. Witch Doctor was a disappoint the menthol mouthwash ruined it for me, it was a bit nauseating.

[pocketvenus]

@moxiepancakes, thank you for sharing your thoughts!! I'm so glad you found one that was full bottle worthy ❤️ I love the smell of osmanthus, though it reminds me of food more than flowers since it's used in a number of Chinese desserts 🙂

[pocketvenus]

Before I forget, I also smelled, but didn't swatch, a couple Kilian lipsticks. They smell sweet, but not gourmand-like even though the notes are marshmallow and orange blossom. They smell like perfume. Maybe the strength is a little less than say, a Burt's Bees scented lip balm. The glossy formula smelled stronger than the matte which was very, very matte, almost like velvet. I can't say I liked it to be honest. The packaging is really gorgeous looking though.

@lachaton 

[pocketvenus]

Tried the new Jo Malone Cade & Cedarwood. The opening is relatively aggressive for a JM and the smoke from the cade lasts for longer than I thought it would. However, the dry down is also pretty sweet with the sweetness projecting further than the smoke. Or at least, too sweet for me! But if you like the idea of a smoky-sweet scent, this JM lasted longer than the others on my skin so do give it a try.

[Samtian]

I can't get over how beautiful this bottle is.

[Vmaster]

Finally, for the last of my Lagerfeld orders:

KL Homme by Karl Lagerfeld

This is a spicy-oriental that was released in 1986 and is now discontinued. I purchased the 2 oz (60 ml) bottle on ebay for $93.17 US.

This fragrance opens to a bittersweet orange (due to the lemon), amber, aldehyde, sharp lavender with some rosewood in the background. In the heart, the carnation, rose and geranium are the most prominent. The rosewood and amber are still noticeable in this stage, while the spiciness (cinnamon) comes into play and the orange begins to fade. As the floral begins to dissipate at the dry-down, I begin to notice the strong notes of castoreum and civet come into play, along with a lightly powdered vanilla.

The sharp lavender in the opening slightly messes with my sinuses but after that dissipates the fragrance is really enjoyable. A little will go a long way as it is a potent '80s fragrance but it is not a projection beast that will fill a room, which is a good thing because I wear my fragrances at work.

KL Homme is a classic that would be best worn  during the cooler months of the year.

Top: Lemon, Bergamot, Rosewood, Lavender, Orange, Aldehyde.
Middle: Carnation, Jasmine, Geranium, Fern, Cinnamon, Rose, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Cedarwood.
Base: Vanilla, Benzoin, Olibanum, Musk, Amber, Civet.

[pocketvenus]

@Vmaster, which one was your favourite?

[Vmaster]

@pocketvenus 

1. KL Homme

2. Private Klub

3. Lagerfeld Classic

Though I enjoy Lagerfeld Classic, I find myself going back to the other two more often. The Vintage version of Lagerfeld Classic, Lagerfeld Cologne, was the very first Lagerfeld fragrance which was released back in 1978. I will eventually buy one as I read that it is a lot better than the reformulated version.

Modern version

Original version

[pocketvenus]

@Vmasterthe Homme sounds pretty fantastic! Hope you get a great deal on the vintage 🙂

[Vmaster]

@pocketvenus

After quite a few more wearings of each fragrance, there is a slight change in my favorites:

1. KL Homme

2. Lagerfeld Classic

3. Private Klub

[pocketvenus]

@Vmaster, funny how things can change with repeated wears! Was there something different in subsequent wearings that made you change your mind?

[Vmaster]

@pocketvenus  That musk note combined with the orange is just too nice.

I'm going to buy another bottle tomorrow (just in case).

🙂

[pocketvenus]

@Vmastergood luck with scoring another vintage 🙂

[Vmaster]

My bottle of Private Klub for Men by Lagerfeld arrived yesterday. If you can imagine Aventus by Creed without the smoky birch, you'll have Private Klub for Men. A really nice pineapple-centered fragrance. Not bad at all considering it was only $30 US on ebay for a 100 ml bottle, while a 100 ml bottle of Aventus retails for $435 US. A pity that it was discontinued.

Fragrance Notes:
Top Notes: Basil, Grapefruit, Lavender
Heart Notes: Pineapple, Clove, Cinnamon
Base Notes: Coumarin, Vetiver, Cedar

As usual, this is marketed towards men, but the ladies will enjoy it as well.

There was a Private Klub for Women that focused on magnolia, almond and kashmir notes but it did not rate very well.

Notice the profile of Karl Lagerfeld on the K's?

[pocketvenus]

@Vmasterwow, $30 😮 You could try layering it with something smokey and there's your Aventus ha ha

[Vmaster]

@pocketvenus  Hyde by Hiram Green 🙂

[pocketvenus]

@Vmasterthis one is definitely on my to test list. It sounds amazing

[Vmaster]

@pocketvenus  I have a sample of this. It is Very smoky and Very nice.

[octopusme]

I didn’t know where to post this, so I figured here would be a good spot. I came across this fig tree candle in Target and its a total dupe for Diptyque Philosykos!

[pocketvenus]

@octopusmethanks for sharing, sounds like an amazing find ❤️

[Vmaster]

Karl Lagerfeld had worked for Jean Patou, Cloe, Krizia, Valentino and Fendi as a designer. He also worked as the design director for Chanel from 1982 to 2000, being responsible for bringing the near-dead brand back to life as well as creating the CC monograph of Coco Chanel into a style pattern for the house that we see today. He had also began his own "Karl Lagerfeld" brand, which was established to channel "intellectual sexiness". Karl worked with Fendi until his death last month, at the age of 85.

When I had read the news of his passing, I realized that I had never tried the Karl Lagerfeld fragrances. This past Wednesday I purchased three of the brand's fragrances: Lagerfeld Classic which was released in 1978, Private Klub for Men which was released in 2015, and the highly rated KL Homme which was released in 1986. I was able to find a 50 ml bottle of Lagerfeld Classic at Walgreens in the US for $25, and the other two were found on ebay as they both had been discontinued. I will report on the two from ebay when they arrive next week. If you are not into "male" fragrances, a highly rated women's fragrance from Lagerfeld is KL by Lagerfeld (released in 1982) which can be found on ebay.

Lagerfeld Classic by Karl Lagerfeld is a spicy oriental.

Top Notes: Aldehydes, Bergamot, Tarragon, Green notes, Clary sage, Lemon.
Heart Notes: Orris root, Jasmine, Patchouli, Rose, Sandalwood, Tobacco, Cedar.
Base Notes: Amber, Oakmoss, Musk, Tonka bean, Vanilla.

To my nose, the musk really stands out. Personally, I do not like overbearing animalic musk, but the musk note in this fragrance is very enjoyable coupled with the other notes, especially the tobacco, amber, vanilla and aldehydes. This fragrance smells really sexy.

Although this fragrance is aimed at men, women will enjoy this one as well. Again, I purchased my 50 ml bottle at Walgreens in the US for $25. Cheap but it does not smell cheap.