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!

[purly]

Today I wore Atelier Cologne Ambre Nue. I'm not really sure what amber is supposed to smell like exactly since it's a gem and I don't typically think gems have a scent to them. I keep seeing amber listed as an "note" in fragrances and I always find that really puzzling. I guess it's sort of like tree sap without the scent of the tree? 

Anyway what I get from this fragrance mostly is patchouli. I'm super sensitive to the scent of patchouli and usually when someone is wearing it that's all I can smell. I think that's why stoners favor the stuff. But alongside the patchouli I smell something I would describe as spicey. I can't explain it exactly. It's very masculine. It does smell a bit less masculine as the scent dies down, but at the end of the day I still smell patchouli.

It's funny I don't like this because Atelier actually makes the only fragrance with patchouli in it that I actually like: Rose Anonyme.

[Titian06]

@purly - Ambre is an aromatic resin also referred to as an organic gemstone that's the hardened resin of the now extinct Pinus succinifera, and other trees.

Odor profile: sweet, resinous, cozy and warm, often rather powdery notes recreated from a mix of balsams, usually labdanum, benzoin, vanilla, styrax and fir or a combination of some of these. The default oriental note.  (Fragrantica)

[purly]

So, I would describe the scent as warm, although I can't explain why. I would not describe it as vanilla or pine though. 

[Mcakes]

Wanted to make sure my Commodity lovers didn't miss this new set while the 3x points on fragrance is going on: http://www.sephora.com/best-dressed-travel-spray-kit-P419126?skuId=1918358&icid2=products%20grid:p41...

Also, I finally got around to trying Atelier in Orange Sanguine. I don't know why I had a negative prejudice against this in my mind for the longest time but now that I have actually tried it I have to say it's not bad! Not my favorite scent in the world but it's not as overpoweringly citrus as I thought it was going to be. I looked up the notes and while it doesn't have vanilla in there I thought I smelled a bit of it. I got the spray deluxe sample in a Sephora Favorites kit and I will definitely use it 🙂

[alexasteph]

@Mcakes I really love this one! It smells just like a juicy orange and it reminds me of a hot summer night at sunset! I have a couple of DS sprays from different kits, it's probably one of my favorite citrus fragrances. 

[Seymore3]

Pinrose Merry maker-I like this but wish it was a bit stronger.I smelled the grapefruit and citrus really strong at first but after a couple hours the citrus faded and I smelled the musk more.

[purly]

Today I'm wearing Atelier Cologne Mandarine Glaciale. I started wearing it last night after Mimosa Indigo didn't work out, and decided to keep wearing it this morning because I like it so much. It smells like that Celestial Seasonings "Mandarin Orange" tea! It's very orangey, but without that soapy smell that I get from Orange Sanguine. It has a hint of spice in the background, although admittedly not the same spice as is in the tea. Either way, the smell of this perfume reminds me of the tea.

[purly]

Update: decided to try layering it with Vanille Insensee. The vanilla complemented it nicely and helped bring out the spice scent.

[Titian06]

@purly - Thanks for sharing!  I really like Mandarine Glaciale because of the spiciness.  I don't have Vanille Insensee, but I do have another vanilla.  I'll try that one to see how it works.

[purly]

Let us know how it goes and which vanilla you use!

[blackkitty2014]

I'd been lazy since my Costa Rica trip (almost 3 months ago)  I need to do this again.  As of the moment, Creed Aventus for Her is top of my wanted list.

[Titian06]

I bought three sample sets and a couple of rollerballs plus samples so I'm ready to jump back in!

- Hermes, Terre d'Hermes Eau de Toilette

Notes:  Grapefruit, Woody Notes, Mineral Notes, Green Notes

Ugh!  This stinks!  Need I say more?

- Atelier Cologne, Clementine California Cologne

Notes:  Clementine, Mandarin, Juniper Berries, Star Anise, Sichuan Pepper, Basilica, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Cypress

I am disappointed with this scent.  I thought it would smell more citrusy and I thought it would have a stronger scent.  Instead, the scent is barely there and it has no distinctive note(s).  If "nothing" had a scent, this would be it.  If you want a subtle, nondescript scent, this will fill the bill.  I will continue to wear it since it doesn't smell bad.  Maybe I will try layering it with another scent...mmm...

[Titian06]

@ghrelin - You're cat's reaction is interesting.  I hold my wrist for my cats to smell--I'd like their input--but they just go about their business.  It's like they don't smell anything at all!

[ghrelin]

@Titian06  Cats are strange creatures!  My cat is an opinionated and grouchy old lady.  If I'm not awake and out of my bedroom by 6am, she starts meowing loudly at the door (she doesn't sleep with me because I can't sleep with her), not because she wants food but because she figures I have had enough bedroom time.  

She hates rock and roll, heavy metal, some pop music, and anything in Russian, but loves soft meditative music, ballads, country, and Paul Simon.  And she HATES Metallica.

She has opinions on my perfume, on my choice of food, where I sit on the couch.  God forbid I fall asleep on the couch because she will wake me up and tell me to go to my room! 

My other cat, before he passed away, couldn't have cared less about any of that, but he liked to sit on a perch and watch me cook, or sit with me while I gardened.  He was so great and I miss him terribly.

Cats are so strange, but wonderful creatures.  Maybe yours will come around and start giving you perfume advice too 😉

[txcatx]

Ha, your cat is hilarious, @ghrelin! I wish I weren't allergic to cats. I'd love perfume advice from a cat.

[ghrelin]

@txcatx  How sad that you're allergic!  Though it's probably for the best.  First they start trying to dictate your perfume selection, next they try to take over the world.  😄

[Titian06]

@ghrelin - lol!  Give a cat an inch and they take over the world!

[Asche]

I popped in here just to read about your cat @ghrelin! 😄 She would hate living with me, all I listen to is rock & roll and heavy metal (and, you guessed it, Metallica). 😛

It's so funny how cats can be so particular about things. Sounds like your girl really likes running the show. 😛

[ghrelin]

@Asche  I love Metallica (enough to have them on vinyl), and it never fails that she walks around meowing her head off when I play them, or any sort of rock or metal.  She also hates the Offspring and Slipknot.  

I just keep telling her that when she goes out and gets a job and pays her share, then she can have a say in the music 😉  She has no problem giving you a piece of her mind.

[Asche]

That is hilarious @ghrelin. Glad you've tried to tell her how it is! Now you just have to watch out for that kitty revenge. 😉

[ghrelin]

@Asche  HA!  That gif is amazing.