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!

[Samtian]

A couple of perfumes for this month-

Maison Margiela 'REPLICA' Under the Lemon Trees 

4/5- Under the Lemon Trees opens with a sharp, chemical lemon and rosy scent that fades into a refreshing citrus musk with subtle tea undertones. Eventually, it settles into a delicate powdery citrus aroma. I really loved this one, unfortunately it was very faded after 4 hours.

GUERLAIN Aqua Allegoria Mandarine Basilic Eau de Toilette 2.5 oz / 75 mL 

3/5- This fragrance opens with an intense burst of sharp green and powdery citrus notes, which gradually soften as it dries down. Emerging next are hints of green tea, orange blossoms, and cedarwood, adding depth and complexity. Finally, it settles into predominantly basil notes with a subtle hint of cedar, lasting an impressive nine hours.

[Samtian]

My mini of the month is the Jo Malone Oak + Hazelnut.

Not my picture

3/5- At first I didn't like this at all. I would spray it and go to work. So what I initially smelled was the first part and it was bad. The Oak and Hazelnut perfume opens with an intense very intense blend of nut, oak, and alcohol.  The alcohol note fades quickly, giving way to the emergence of vetiver and another intriguing element I can't place. As time progresses, a delightful smoky woodiness, later identified as roasted oak, and elemisurface. While the fragrance evolves beautifully, the wear time is moderate, lasting less than 5 hours. Had I not tested this out and just went off the initial smell I would have tossed this. It's still a really strong scent. 

[cianni]

I’ve been doing the capsule makeup challenge, and have decided to incorporate a fragrance as well for each week. I’m trying to shop my stash, but also go through some testers. This week, i decided to use The Good Scent - Manifest Your Future, it was a random blind buy at Marshalls (a set with a mini perfume and a travel spray was only $14.99). To be honest, im not that impressed. It smells like apple juice to me, with a slightly gourmand caramel note in the dry down. I would honestly like it more if there was any lasting power to it.. i only get the caramel note for 15 mins before it dissipates. Ill try to finish the mini 10ml bottle ive been using, probably more as a body spray before the gym than an actual perfume, but I probably will pass the travel spray to a younger relative who may use it more.

has anyone had any luck with The Good Scent? I’ve been seeing it all over my local Winners/Marshalls, but this one doesn’t make me really interested in trying any others from the line, unless one comes recommended. The bottle ad the price point are very good though, so i will give it that!

[Samtian]

@cianni I haven't heard of it before. The bottle is pretty! I like most of the notes but the sage and coconut milk would stop me from trying it. 

[cianni]

@Samtian I don’t get a lot of sage from it personally, but it’s not special enough that id recommend it anyways. The bottle is indeed cute though haha, it looks pretty on my vanity, so for the price its not bad as decor either!

[Samtian]

My January travel perfume is Victoria Secret Dark Angel. I didn't realize they don't make this one anymore. 

Not my photo

2/5-Victoria's Secret Dark Angel is a fragrance with a mysterious and indescribable initial impression. As it dries down, floral caramel notes with a subtle hint of mango emerge, followed by a slight coffee note after 5 minutes. At around the 14-minute mark, it transforms into a super super intense blend of coffee and caramel, leaving a lasting impression for 10 hours.

[Margalee]

So there was a surprise twist to that Diptyque eau de Sens (hair mist) mixed with Aerin Evening Rose. There is a distinct reminiscence of Ellis Brooklyn Raven there. More powdery, less spicy with a touch of green, but definitely reminiscent of EB Raven. Very surprised at the outcome. Very different to me than the Aerin Evening Rose mixed with Banana Republic Vintage Green. The Aerin mixed with BR was a bit muddled. Earth and water puddle kind of blended mix. The Aerin mixed with Diptyque is more fire and air kind of transformative mix. Very interesting. I was worried the Diptyque would overwhelm the Aerin but after a moment there was a definite pushback by the Aerin and the two are now quite different together from their original forms. Also a note that Aerin mixed with BR is the greener smelling fragrance. The green was not snappy, but more like a Hermes Sur le Nil type of green. I should have guessed that beforehand because BR Vintage Green is not a snappy green. It is more laid back like Sur le Nil.

[Samtian]

@Margalee I had no idea they had collabs, sounds awesome!

[Margalee]

@Samtian they are my secret collabs for me. Hah hah Just having some fun with my perfumes. 

[Samtian]

@Margalee That's awesome!

[Titian06]

@Samtian - These aren't collabs.  @Margalee is experimenting with layering these scents.

[Samtian]

@Titian06 Ah cool! Thank you!

[Margalee]

I'd say the gist of it is puddles vs campfires. Ha ha

[Margalee]

For fun I tried a combo. I wanted to take a rose perfume but give it a good green snap. I started with Aerin Evening Rose and layered with Banana Republic Vintage Green. It was fine, just not quite what I was looking for. I will try Evening Rose with Diptyque eau de Sens. I was afraid eau de Sens would overpower the Evening Rose so I opted for the BR first. I don't have many foliage scented fragrances so I won't be at this long! I don't have many heavily rose scents either so maybe it will be Physician's Formula Rosé and eau de Sens...

[Titian06]

This does sound like fun, @Margalee !  I'm not very good at layering scents.  Maybe I'll try to come up with something. 🤔

[Margalee]

Trying the reformulated Tom Ford's Black Orchid EDT. I tried this a few years ago and it was so muddled in the notes that it was like when you mix paints and go oops! Muddy brownish yellow-green. You could smell much more of the plum in the original edt. This is a less heavy, with a bit more of what I call "high florals". I'm guessing though that there isn't really much more but probably just seems that way without the deep anchors in the edp. Personally, I do find the edt more feminine. Even bordering on the typical yet more pricey style of woman's floral scent from less recent years. The footprint of the edp saves the edt from being typical for me. It was nice to get a whiff of what I associate with Chanel style fragrances running through this one. Ah, typical and Chanel in the same paragraph. Even I'm cringing. Hah hah. I prefer the edp but the edt is worthy too. I do wish for just a splash more of the plum but I guess that's how muddy yellowish green happens...

[Samtian]

@Margalee Oh that is sad they reformulated it, I loved the old version lol. Guess I'll have to try the new one sometime.

[pocketvenus]

Tried Chris Rusak's Ochre, a rich tobacco scent that's ambery and deep, which is a type of tobacco I prefer, as opposed to the lighter, powdery varieties. Opens with a mellow sweetness, tinged with honey, imparting a sensation that's rich, moist and sticky. As the scent develops, the stickiness gives way to something a little smokier and more textured with a pleasant metallic twang. However, the scent's strength by far is its alluring dry down, which settles into a cozy, musky sandalwood.

Excellent value at $130 for 30ml.

[Margalee]

@pocketvenus  yeah, I agree with @itsfi . Very intriguing, but how much of a metallic twang? After Tom Ford's Metallic scent it's scared me off of metallic perfumes.

[itsfi]

@pocketvenus, this one intrigues me. I'm a little hesitant about the metallic twang - metallic notes don't usually work so well with my body chemistry. Does that metallic twang linger? 

[pocketvenus]

@Margalee @itsfi It's definitely pretty subtle. I would not classify this as a metallic or challenging fragrance - or even one that smells particularly synthetic. But sometimes the earth can smell sharp to me.