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!

[angel7594]

@alexasteph, This challenge really has been good for me! I have several fragrances in my collection that I am not as fond of anymore. It is making me think carefully before I buy a full size bottle. I will likely purchase rollerballs in the future, to help reduce waste when my tastes change.

[alexasteph]

@angel7594 I primarily only buy only rollerballs for that very reason. I can't commit to a full bottle. I wish I could be one of those "signature fragrance" girls, but I'm just too indecisive haha. 

[pocketvenus]

Day Twenty Six: Frederic Malle's Vetiver Extraordinaire

A luminous vetiver, photoshopped into a fragrance of precision and clarity. The bright green opening is made vivid with citrus. Myrrh and musk add bitterness, smoke and weight in the drydown but the fragrance never loses its spaciousness.

[Titian06]

Day 26:  Givenchy – Dahlia Divin

Notes:  Golden Fruit (Mirabelle Plum), White Flower Bouquet (Mainly Jasmine), Sandalwood, Vetiver, Patchouli

This was a nice change from the Nest and Atelier Cologne scents.

Compiled

Spoiler

Day 25:  Nest – Indigo

Day 24:  Atelier Cologne – Mandarine Glaciale

Day 23:  Atelier Cologne – Cedrat Enivrant

Day 22:  Versace – Eros Pour Femme (EDP)

Day 21:  Elizabeth & James – Nirvana Black

Day 20:  Giorgio Armani – Acqua di Gioia

Day 19:  Nest – Citrine

Day 18:  Nest – Midnight Fleur

Day 17:  Nest – Dahlia & Vines

Day 16:  John Varvatos – Artisan Acqua

Day 15:  Versace - Dylan Blue

Day 14:  Marc Jacobs - Daisy

Day 13:  Atelier Cologne – Figuier Ardent

Day 12:  Acqua Di Gio Pour Homme

Day 11:  Cartier – Vetiver Bleu

Day 10:  Atelier Cologne - Sud Magnolia

Day 9:  Dolce & Gabbana – Light Blue

Day 8:  Escada – Joyful

Day 7:  Escada – Born in Paradise

Day 6:  Moschino – Moschino Fresh Couture

Day 5:  Chanel - No. 5 L'eau

Day 4:  Elizabeth & James - Nirvana Bourbon

Day 3:  YSL - Black Opium

Day 2:  Pacifica - Tunisian Jasmine Lime

Day 1:  Juliette Has a Gun - Not a Perfume

[blackkitty2014]

Jan 26: Tom Ford Fleur de Portofino EDP deluxe sample: I don't love the Neroli Portofino but I love this. Very feminine, refreshing and oh so work on me. It's only a matter of time for me to acquire the full bottle.

[AMHWKI]

Day 26 - Escada, Turquoise Summer

Notes are Raspberry, Black Currant, and Violet

So summery, but I felt like something uplifting on this dreary January day.

[michelleshops]

Day 26: Burberry Burberry London

My notes - I apologize in advance for my terrible description of this one.  It's one of my all time favorite scents and I just can't pin down any notes.  It smells cozy and warm but a little sexy and musky.  I know there's a floral element but I can't figure out what exactly it is.  It just makes me happy.

Real notes - Clementine, Honeysuckle, English Garden Rose, Tiare Flower, Jasmine, Peony, Veil of Musks, Indian Sandalwood, Patchouli.

[k617]

This was one of my favourites a few years ago! It is super rosy on me. I had a 3.4 fl oz bottle for the longest time and was not very diligent about applying perfume, so the bottle was too large and I couldn't finish it before it went bad 😞

Now that I see the notes (never thought to look it up since I could smell the rose and was happy) - Jasmine, Peony and Patchouli are some of my favs so I can now see why I liked it so much!

[jemly]

Day 11: Diptyque Eau Duelle EDP

the weather has changed overnight so i'm switching back over to my 'cozy' scents. this is such a comfort scent to me. perfect example of the power vanilla holds when its sweetness is allowed to be creamy and spicy rather than sugary.

it smells of vanilla tea spiced with cardamom, saffron, and pink pepper. it has that juniper note which  seems to be a common thread in all my favorites these days. and additional resins of elemi and olibanum keep it rich.

(also, if you like eau duelle, you can get it in their 'vanille' candle too--my favorite candle of ever. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I LIKED VANILLA before discovering these.)

previous days in the spoiler

Spoiler

DIPTYQUE - tam dao EDT
TOCCA - colette
ISSEY MIYAKE - l'eau d'issey EDT
TOM FORD - santal blush
DEMETER - green tea
KEROSENE - blackmail EDP 
JO MALONE - dark amber & ginger lily cologne
ETAT LIBRE d'ORANGE - dangerous complicity
DIPTYQUE - philosykos EDT
DEMETER - tomato 

[JenniferOhJenny]

@jemly Vanille is also my favorite candle...my first Diptyque, and I think I bought it because of a recommendation from you :).

[michelleshops]

Oh @jemly this has been on my list forever!  I'm so glad to hear you like it.  It sounds wonderful!  I have to pick it up soon.

[unfungirl]

Day 26: Atelier Sud Magnolia

I am running out of samples to try! This challenge has been such a good motivator to try new things! I don't love this, as it's predominantly floral, but the orange and cedar/musk notes do tone it down a bit. It faded within 2 hours though, as many atelier scents do. It's just okay, nothing more or less.

[Titian06]

@unfungirl - Don't worry about running out of samples.  I only have 3 scents left, so I'm going to be 2 days short.  I figured I'd be short, but I'm surprised I made it this far.  😉

[unfungirl]

thanks @Titian06! i gave away a ton of the samples i had, because there were a billion i knew i'd never wear! i can always wear mess less loved scents that i already own if needed i guess! 🙂

[k617]

I've been cheating the past few days and switching between CK Deep Euphoria and Armani Si Intense.

Today I went back to my sample vials (I didn't choose enough for the full number of days I'm partaking in the challenge) and am wearing Lancôme Tresor.

Notes: Apricot Blossom, Rose, Lilac, Iris, Peach, Amber, Sandalwood, Musk, Vanilla.

As soon as I had this on for a couple of seconds, I knew I didn't like it. There's something in this perfume that I just dislike in perfumes in general. I think it might be apricot and peach.. I don't get any rose or lilac at all.

This vial will be a throwaway once I get home!

[unfungirl]

one of my friends always wore tresor @k617 and it gave me the worst headache!  

[alexasteph]

We won't tell about the cheating 😉 I've been very tempted to revisit a few as well, but I also have so many to try. 

I agree with you about Tresor. I love love love La Vie Est Belle, but can't get behind Tresor. 

[alexasteph]

Day 26: Commodity Mimosa

100% yes. This is my first time wearing Mimosa (or any Commodity fragrance, for that matter), and I absolutely LOVE IT. When I was having some sample vials made, the SA suggested this one layered with Moss, and that was also incredible. I'm not wearing it today, but since she made me a sample of Moss, I definitely will be at some point. I loved Moss on it's own too. I picked up a sample of Gold as well, so... Add Commodity to the list of fragrance brands I won't be able to get enough of. Ugh. This challenge has been amazing for expanding my fragrance horizon, but I've added like 6 or 7 ones I'm afraid I won't be able to live without. 

Mimosa is bright and fresh, with blood orange, mandarin, and grapefruit. Ylang ylang tones down the sweetness. The reviews say it isn't very long lasting, but it's lasting on me so far. Granted, I have only been wearing it about an hour, but if a scent dissipates quickly on me it usually does right away. This is a 5/5 for me.

Spoiler

Day 1: Alien by Muglar (eh)
Day 2: Estee Lauder Modern Muse Chic (yay!)
Day 3: Atelier Orange Sanguine (yay!)
Day 4: D&G Dolce (yay!)
Day 5: Pinrose Merry Maker (yay!)
Day 6: TokyoMilk Dark Pretty Rotten 33 (no)
Day 7: Fresh snow and a frozen nose
Day 8: Lavender and Peppermint Essential Oils
Day 9: YSL Mon Paris (yay!)
Day 10: Marc Jacobs Daisy Dream (eh)
Day 11: British TV shows
Day 12: Lancôme La Vie Est Belle (yay!)
Day 13: Pinrose Tambourine Dreamer (yay!)
Day 14: Balenciaga B. Skin (double yay!)
Day 15: Pinrose Secret Genius (yay!)
Day 16: Pinrose Pinrose + Secret Genius (yay!)
Day 17: Jose Maran Joy/Sweet Holly (yay!)
Day 18: Chloe Eau du Parfum (yay!)
Day 19: Dior J'adore (yay!)
Day 20: YSL Black Opium (yay!)
Day 21: Elizabeth and James Nivana White (double yay!)
Day 22: Nothing
Day 23: Marc Jacobs Dot (eh)
Day 24: Versace Eros Pour Femme EDP (no, unfortunately)
Day 25: BVLGARI Omnia Paraiba (eh)

[unfungirl]

@alexasteph i love all things commodity! moss and gold are 2 of my faves 🙂

[Samtian]

Day 25- HdP-1826-

1826 was inspired by the first and last French empress, Eugénie de Montijo. She was a sparkling beauty. Her seductive nature and temperamental elegance delighted Napoleon the third as well as influenced the mundane life and artistic refinement of her time.

Luminous and sensual amber is carried by the full-bodied power of white flowers and patchouli, leaving an unforgettable trail.

Notes:
Bergamot, Tangerine, White Flowers, Violet, Cinnamon, Ginger, Patchouli, Amber, Incense, Blond Woods, White Musk, Vanilla.

http://www.sephora.com/1826-travel-spray-P409741?skuId=1827146&icid2=products%20grid:p409741

Day 26-HdP-1876-

1876 was inspired by Mata Hari, the legendary courtesan, exotic dancer, seductress, and spy. This fragrance opens with sweet lychee and bright bergamot before blossoming into elegant rose on a bed of exotic spices that pay tribute to Mata Hari’s half-Asian heritage. The drydown is exotic sandalwood and tantalizing vanilla.

Notes:
Orange, Bergamot, Lychee, Rose, Iris, Violet, Cumin, Cinnamon, Carnation, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Guaiacum, White Musk, Vanilla.

http://www.sephora.com/1876-travel-spray-P409744?skuId=1827153&icid2=products%20grid:p409744

I really love both of these 😄 especially 1876.

[Titian06]

@Samtian - You've inspired me to add one of the sample sets to my Loves list!  They all sound nice...and a little different.  I'm on a no-buy for January, so maybe next month...