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!

[modernwarpaint]

@pocketvenus - I came across this house when researching and Debaser is on my sampling list... I just have too many in front of it.  I have a feeling I will be comparing it to my dear Philosykos.  Thanks for the reviews.

[octopusme]

@modernwarpaint I just got samples of Debaser and Philosikos. I think Debaser is a more "grown up" version of Philosikos because it's not as sweet and it lasts a lot longer on my skin.

[octopusme]

I'm really interested in Ellis Brooklyn Fawn. Has anyone tried it out yet?

[Titian06]

Today I wore Giorgio Armani Sky di Gioia.  This is a fresh, (almost) light scent that puts me in a good moods.  My nose isn't nosy enough to pick out individuals notes.  As someone who isn't that crazy about rose, I definitely do not smell the rose or it's light enough I don't notice it.  This is on my list for a rollerball/travel spray.

Top Notes: Lychee, Pear
Mid Notes: Peony, Rose
Base Notes: Cedar, White Musk, Blackberry

[RoseCharlie]

@Titian06 Ooooo Lychee! I love Lychee! : ) I'm wearing Lychee Sugar by FRESH right now and I didn't know about this perfume, thank you so much for the fab review!

[pocketvenus]

Amouage's Jubilation 25 (not to be confused with XXV, which is the men's version) is a excellent fragrance evocative of stone fruit and flesh with a dusting of spices. It emanates a lovely golden warmth - like donning gorgeous halo of scent.

It immediately reminded me of the fruity chypre, Mitsouko. Which is odd because the two fragrances don't share a lot of notes. There are no fruit notes in J25 for example, but I definitely smell peach, and it seems, others online do as well. It's not a clone of course. There is a more aggressive cumin that heightens the warmth and skin-like nature of J25. It also lacks the dark depth of a traditional chypre. It is far more "intimate." So it does hold its own, even if it's not particularly original. It's very much a classic beauty to be enjoyed on those terms. Very pleased with this one - fans of Mitsouko are encouraged to give J25 a try.

[RoseCharlie]

@pocketvenus That sounds WONDERFUL! : ) I love peach and apricot notes and I don't come across them often.  Thanks for the great reviews!

[pocketvenus]

@RoseCharlie, for a peachy perfume, definitely check out Mitsouko 🙂 Serge Lutens also makes a lovely apricot suede, Daim Blonde

[pocketvenus]

Tried Amouage’s Epic Man today which has been the easiest, most commercial wear I've tried from the house so far. It's a woody oriental. Luckyscent lists the notes as pink pepper berry, frankincense, cumin, cardamom, saffron, mace essence, nutmeg, myrtle, geranium, myrrh, oud, sandalwood, patchouli, leather, cedarwood, musk.

The opening is fresh and fragrant with spice and cedar. In the dry down, the spices become richer, smokier and darker. The fragrance has so many notes, it is difficult to pick out individual ones. Like the other Amouages I tried, the notes play and shift about but always remain balanced. The dry down is yummy, but nothing mind blowing.

I think if I had to describe Amouage, there’s luxury but also, conservatism. The fragrances are lovely, but they’re also too stuffy for my taste. So while I enjoy wearing them, I'm finding they’re not for me except the Opus VII. If I’m going to aim for something that references more classical fragrances, I'd rather find something less stately and more subversive. Anyway, I’ve one last Amouage to try… I’ve been saving (what I hope to be) the best for last: Jubilation 25 (for women).

[Titian06]

@pocketvenus - Almost sounds Christmasy with those notes.

[pocketvenus]

I didn't even realize that til you pointed it out, @Titian06! 🙂 It's not much of a Christmas scent though. The florals and peach take the fore and cumin is the most obvious spice.

[howconnie]

I'm curious about this house but it isn't sold in my area. 

[pocketvenus]

If you live in the US, you can order samples and full bottles online but I know, shipping etc. can be a pain @howconnie

[howconnie]

I’m on the hunt for a summer citrus scent that smells like Italy 🇮🇹 Something one would expect to buy on vacation so I’ve tried quite a few. They’re so expensive I have to be sure.

Tom Ford Neroli smells just like a bowl of tangerines and orange zest. It last all day and definitely smells like my imaginary Italy but the price makes me continue to test.

Sailing Day: I had high hopes for this one but my skin clutched onto the seaweed accord so I smelled like a carp swimming near lotus blossom. The scent was very light, but prominent enough where people might look around for seafood. It had lasting power on me, think it would be beautiful on somebody else.

[modernwarpaint]

Atelier has some nice citrus colognes.  I really like Pomelo Paradis.  Orange Sanguine features blood orange from Italy.  Sephora has a travel palette of 8 sample sizes for $19.00.  Also, Tocca Colette is a nice cozy citrus that is light, the vanilla warms it up, but the longevity is poor.  Unfortunately, most perfumes that are primarily citrus sort of turn sour on me.  

[Titian06]

@modernwarpaint - I love Pomelo Paradis and Orange Sanguine!

[pocketvenus]

@Titian06@modernwarpaint- I also liked Orange Sanguine. So realistic!

[howconnie]

Oh thank you I'll look into those. 

[pocketvenus]

@howconnie- Maybe give L’Artisan’s Histoire d’Orangers a shot?

[howconnie]

I like that fragrance house,  I have three of their fragrances and I love the quality, don't know where they're sold lately. 

[pocketvenus]

I know - they used to be carried at the Nordstrom in Toronto but haven't been there for awhile now 😞 I haven't seen them outside of specialist boutiques since.