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!

[jemly]

A milk note is a challenge ! I see brands trying it, serge lutens infamous “dent de lait” comes to mind, I frankly don’t get it ! There are other beautiful non sour-milk-memory inducing ways to add a soft creamy note…

[jemly]

Today (and yesterday, my first wear of it) is Amara by relatively new niche brand Cultus Artem. This brand is glorious, most of the notes are the actual botanicals (old school style) rather than synthetic compositions, which leads to a more nuanced but rather seductive take on perfume. This stuff is formulated to sit closer to the skin rather than leave a trail behind you, it melts into the skin brilliantly. In fact I do not know if I’ve ever experienced a line where spritzes on paper does it such injustice. This is about the skin and becoming of you. 

Amara is an orange blossom scent but not your typical one, this is about the flower and earth rather than citrus that is usually so ubiquitous in orange blossom fragrances. Also has marigold and sandalwood.

they make a discovery set of small roller balls that in going through right now. Amara lasted all day on my skin, I was shocked.

because of the ingredients, this brand is $$. But there is so much consideration into every aspect of the product — from the ingredients to the juice, to the bottles and the packaging (the box is made to be reused). When I get home I wanna show y’all the packaging to the discovery set. So dreamy. Would make particularly precious gift (to oneself or otherwise)

 

 

[Samtian]

@jemly That sounds amazing!

[Titian06]

This scent and that it's natural sounds wonderful, @jemly ! 🥰  Looking forward to your reviews of the other samples!

[BeautyIsPassion]

My scent preferences have changed so much over the past two years. I’m currently loving YSL libre and Libre intense. I’m on the hunt for something a little lighter and sweeter the spring/summer. But has that hint of masculine cologne scent like libre. Any recommendations? 

[pocketvenus]

@BeautyIsPassion Maybe give the fougere genre a try? I personally quite like Penhaligon's Sartorial.

[BeautyIsPassion]

thank you kindly for your suggestion!

[Samtian]

My next work perfume was going to be Floral Street Chypre Sublime Eau De Parfum Travel Spray 0.34 oz/ 10 mL But woo no lol. 4 hour wear time.  Starts out strong and glamorous. I really am at a loss to describe this. No particular notes stands out, which is good because rose and patchouli are two of the notes. Dries down to a sweet rose, not sickly sweet though. Final dry down is of course rose and patchouli. I'll give this one to my mom, her two favorite notes. 

[jemly]

today i'm wearing Paradise by Lili Bermuda. i have a much needed day off and it's what i decided to spritz on when i got out of the shower. this is a lovvvely perfume house in, you guessed it, hamilton bermuda. i picked it up in 2019 on vacation there, which makes my life sound much more glamorous than it is. i normally would not be drawn to a fragrance called paradise, as i'm not drawn to fragrances that suggest of a resort / beach life, but this is something else entirely.

with this perfume, paradise is not a place, it's a state of mind. notes of incense, amber, orange blossom and honeysuckle, as well as cedar, patch and vanilla with bergamot top notes. a niece of shalimar (coco, youth dew, etc), a bit of research told me she made her debut in the 1980s (just like me!). it's a bit powdery the way a lot of classic amber scents tend to be. i know powder is a curse word for modern fragrances/fragrance lovers, but i could write an essay on my evolution in coming to understand powder notes and encouraging others to do the same ! it's been an adventure. to anyone who struggles with that, my advice is to just wait. smell how it melts with the skin after just a little while after it warms to your skin. nothing lasts on the skin, melts into the skin, the way a fragrance with even a hint of a powder note does.

i don't wear this one enough given how much i adore it. 

[tastelikewater]

@jemly I just love to read your descriptions!

[pocketvenus]

@jemly Great to see you back!

[Samtian]

@jemly That sounds really lovely. It's so good to see you again. Hope all has been well. 

[Titian06]

This scent sounds wonderful, @jemly ! 🥰  My mom has been to Bermuda as well as the Caribbean several times.  She found her favorite perfume in one of those locations, so I'm not surprised you did too.

[cianni]

Tried the Maison Margiela REPLICA' Matcha Meditation today, and was very let down. the longevity was not there, and while I knew it was an EDT, this was on the “disappeared in minutes and didn’t even stay on my clothing” level of lasting power. I also did not get any of the expected notes. It felt very one-note to me (pun intended). Very light white floral and then it was gone in a flash. I didn’t get any of the green tea, citrus or white chocolate base notes listed. Overall disappointed because the idea was interesting, and unlike any fragrance I’ve worn before.

as per fragrantica - Top notes are Green Tea, Bergamot and Mandarin Orange; middle notes are Jasmine, Mate and Orange Blossom; base notes are White Chocolate, Moss and Cedar.

[Samtian]

@cianni That one always sounded interesting to me. Bummer it didn't work out. 

[Titian06]

How disappointing, @cianni !  I haven't heard of this one.  It sound so nice.  Think I'll give it a sniff test the next time I'm in store.

[cianni]

@Titian06 yes! hopefully it works out better for you!!

[SportyGirly125]

@cianni @Sorry you didn’t like it and it didn’t last long in you. I love this scent but not the new on a date. 

[cianni]

@SportyGirly125 i'm so happy it worked for you! the notes are so nice, i wish it worked for me! fragrance is so interesting in how it can be so different on different people! i quite liked Maison Margiela 'REPLICA' Under the Lemon Trees , but i dont usually have much luck with MM fragrances and longevity 😞

[tastelikewater]

Working my way through Kerosene's sample pack, and today is Summer of '84. Not exactly a weather-appropriate scent, being winter in Chicago, but I needed a break from the heavier gourmands. I'm getting a lot of grapefruit rind, which is *a touch* too sharp for my nose. Hoping it softens just a bit so I can get some of the melon and floral. Honestly, I'll probably put it away under it warms up here.

[jemly]

i used to work with kerosene ! curious what you think !! summer of '84 is a gloriously fresh albeit very literal grapefruit scent.