Katie's Perfume Collection Part 3: Perfume Review / Fragrance Review

[@cheesecake44]

I love how open you are about scents and fragrances. Usually when I see perfume collections or read about someone's perfume tastes they always say, "I don't like this one" or "I love this one" so it's refreshing that you actually go into what it smells like to you and why you like it.

[@r0bdigz]

As one of the founders of the KZbin fragrance community, you never cease to amaze me. You charm and your collection are equally impressive.

[@ambrosejoseph4843]

Where have you gone to? Come back.

[@katafisch]

Katie your collection is gorgeous! I'm pretty passionate perfume collector myself, so watching your scents was a pure pleasure. :)

[@pinanogrl91]

Goodness Katie, I love your videos to death. You're so fun to watch!

[@yescandles]

MMMMmmmmmm you have the best collection ever! So comforting to meet other addicts especially when they make it seem so sane. You seem to have scored so much of what I have been looking for through the years.

[@jenniandthebets2]

your videos make me feel very calm lol. I don't know if that's your intention but its a good quality none the less!

[@passionatereader77]

love ue enthusiasm katie. always look foward to ur vids.Think I'll try to sniff Shalimar soon.

[@connieh2999]

I bought Tea Rose the other day and have fallen totally in love with it! The most beautiful thing!

[@kristabel71]

Thank you for visiting Black Cashmere! I've loved it for a long time and wear it on very cold days... and then find myself rolled up in the corner huffing my sweater!

[@ratioetscientia]

I used to have it 10+ years ago...now feeling nostalgic and desperately looking to buy it again but now it's a rare collectors item and way overpriced..is there any other perfume available today that smells anything like it?

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@Cardsmaster Yes! Donna Karan brought back Black Cashmere, Chaos and Fuel for Men, and added more to that line, then packaged them all uniformly in the tall cylinder bottle. They haven't been reformulated, at least to the naked nose, and are all fascinating fragrances! I'm thrilled Black Cashmere is back!

[@marko3861]

".....like what? What did rose every do to him?" I laughed out loud - very funny, Katie. At risk of sounding like a deranged stalker, I have to admit that your Perfume Collection Series is extremely fascinating......I'll even re-watch a few of them during the week. We often have similar taste in fragrances so it's great to hear someone praise a fragrance that I really enjoy - but I especially appreciate your very apparent passion regarding your collection.....it's refreshing and assuring.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

That's a price for one of the original, pebble shaped bottles. I believe you can get the newer bottle (black cylindrical bottle) for about $100 less online. Unfortunately, it may be discontinued, because I don't see it with the rest of the Donna Karan perfume collection on the Bergdorf Goodman site.

[@quietfi123]

I like the way you relate to your perfumes. Your talk of ouds and attars reminds me of my old manager. You always knew he'd been in the office becos he would leave a scent trail! Oud is strong stuff indeed. We all loved the smell; everyone would take deep breaths to get whiff! I'm going through a floral phase right now. I'm all about the roses and lavender.

[@chefronaldswife]

Great Videos - I enjoy these so very much! I watch these on my lunch break at work :) We must be Cosmic- Scent- Sin -Twisters, I adore Tea Rose (My Hubs screeches every time I spray it though - ROSES! UGH!) I too love Nag Champa so watching this has created a fierce Intrigant Patchouli lemming... I can't wait for the next one, I am going to be quite sad when you have reviewed all of your fragrances....

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@sheslubbs Try these: Agent Provocateur Estée Lauder Tuberose Gardenia Burberry Classic

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@iArtCandy You'd have to book out afternoon and evening, probably! Glad to meet another IP fan.

[@rinoacelin90]

Your pronunciation of Hajar Al Aswad was spot on! One of my favourite attars heh.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@BarrysDaughter Comme des Garçons Avignon is pretty reasonable, as far as niche fragrances go. You could also try out some frankincense essential oils (find them at health food stores and places like Whole Foods) and see if they hit the spot.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@BeeAngelful Thanks - it's actually a dress, by Girls From Savoy from Anthropologie.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@1marielvis Heavens no! I was making a jest about acquisitional natures. Thanks for catching that and allowing me to clarify.

[@doremifasoinlove]

I love Tea Rose! I won that perfume on one of your giveaways and I have been wearing it alot this spring! I would love to try Amouage Homage Attar, I like pure smells. Thanks for the collection videos!!

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@domperrier I've read...somewhere and now I can't remember...that there are techniques for opening old perfume bottles. Perhaps hold it briefly over the spout of a steaming tea kettle?

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@fanfare78 If you store it away from light and heat, it will last for years. But perfumes are there to be used and enjoyed, so be sure to enjoy yours!

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@knics33 My wallet lays those kind of trips on me, too! You're talking about the Nag Champa oil that's by the incense brand that comes in the blue boxes with the red writing? I've not tried it yet, and I'm curious about it too. If you try it, let me know how it is.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@livegorgeouslygreen Haha, I'm just this very second writing up a blog post on this subject, and am planning to do a video of it soon! Thanks so much for the request.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@PeaceLoveLipgloss1 Yes! The cheapie loves in this video are Tea Rose, Nag Champa, Black Stone, and Love. Tea Rose is one of my biggest favorites, and you can find it online for less than $10. I also the perfume oil blends from companies like Auric Blends and Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs, which you can get for less than $20. Ditto the imagination-busting scents from Demeter.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@sethshams I bought my little bottle of oil perfume at Arabian Oud in London on Oxford St (opposite Selfridges). I didn't know of Al Qurashi until your comment - thanks for the tip! Al Qurashi is another Arab pefume shop in London, in Knightsbridge near Harrods. I'll have to check it out the next time I'm there.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@pathu32 Well, as you know, the same juice is in the tester bottles as in the "real" ones, so you're sorted out!

[@classyass]

I love how your eyes light up when you pick your fumes up, like they are little babies. I also love that you love hippy smells, groovy.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@lion03heart If you're loving those spicy roses like Rose 31, then you will really enjoy Lyric for Men. It's greener than Rose 31, and doesn't have R31's cumin. It's easy to find online, and places like Aedes and LuckyScent will send you samples to try first. Chanel Coromandel is available from Chanel Boutiques, a few stores like Selfridges in London and Bergdorf Goodman in NYC, as well as online, I believe.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@voicesofmayhem You can get a deal at online etailers on BC, in the original bottle (the one that I have).

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@BananaPancake92 Ha! Shalimar's so cool - it's like a "tough gourmand" - the sweetness butched up with leather and smoke. I wonder if you'd like Bulgari Black? That's another fascinating vanilla/smoke/weird/wonderful number.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@Zelzega Light Blue is indeed classy Lemon Pez...and amber.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@livegorgeouslygreen The scent-blending post is up on my blog now.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@makeupcreator Avignon smells very straight-ahead church frankincensy to me (with a smidge of vanilla), and Kyoto focuses more on cedary/piney woodsiness, with that vetiver grassy-earthiness. Perhaps Avignon is more cerebral?

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@domperrier This is so not my area: the collecting aspect. The thing that would drive me would be what I wanted to smell and actually wear. All of those perfumes have been reformulated since '83, so they'd all be interesting to own. But if it's the bottle you're after, perhaps Shalimar's crystal bottle is more of an investment? Not sure, though - it's not my area of expertise.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@longlonggone I do think that the smell of frankincense is grounding and meditative and helps you to focus.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

I don't know what your tastes are, but check out: Juliette Has a Gun Miss Charming Kai perfume oil L'Artisan Parfumeur Nuit de Tubereurse Sarah Horowitz Perfect Nectar Keiko Mecheri Loukhoum Eau Poudree You can order samples of these from LuckyScent, too.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@Flinginflanginable They're 2 completely different fragrances. Avignon is full-on cathedral incense, and JV is a leathery/dark fruit-y blend. It depends on what you're after. I prefer Tom Ford For Men Extreme as an upgraded JV, if you're leaning in that direction.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@Appalachianitis Is it possible to give up on of the 7 deadly sins for Lent? Who can control that? Easier to stick with giving up chocolate or something. But not perfume!

[@chrissys31]

i just love you lol i cant get over how well you explain a scents and let me tell you im so glad your back i missed you. i just love hearing about smells. One question for you im a mom of 3 and am wanting to expand my frag collection without breaking the bank so what are good places to get them? Thanks and again you brought out my love for frags again!

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@GreenRoheline I haven't tried that one yet.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@melenmelenmelen The oud-based perfume oils are very intense indeed, and the middle eastern approach is to layer it which very rich and dense florals. You might consider a compare/contrast with the recent western treatments of oud, which is how I first discovered the ingredient. L'Artisan Parfumeur just came out with Al-Oud, which is spicy with cumin, and Montale White Aoud is soft with sandalwood/saffron/vanilla.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@princesslyndi Well, I'm not a dyed-in-the-wood gourmand fan, but the more encounter them and review them, the more I can see their appeal. What about Dior Hypnotic Poison for vanilla/almond?

[@melenmelenmelen]

Ooh, the Arabian Oud is very intriguing! I'm now scoping out their website. Never tried middle eastern perfume oils before, but I'm tempted to after watching this.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@hilaphant Well that just sounds incredible! Where is it available?

[@criminalmindxxxx]

Great collection, Katie. I'm jealous of your stash...If you set up a store anywhere near Scent Bar with that collection, you would surely put them out of business : ) Seeing your vanilla options there, I really must direct you to Guerlain's Spirituese Double Vanille. I just wish it wasn't so difficult to find!

[@Hhall2079]

Thanks Katie! The Amouage Homage Attar intrigues me.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@exotique71 Oy! Well, it depends on how powerful your curiosity is, and it will be different to any perfume you've ever smelled. I wonder if ThePerfumedCourt offer samples any cheaper? Or if anyone on MakeUpAlley or Basenotes or PerfumeofLife are willing to share a bit of theirs...

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@NikoClemente Thanks for all those brownie points!

[@exotique71]

Hi Katie, These collection vids are amazing, it's so nice to see you talking about your scents in an impromptu and candid way! I get a sense for your fabulous personality. You recently helped me find some church incense frags to try. Now, I am completely intrigued by your description of Amouage Homage, however a sample on LS is going for 10 dollars for 1/5 of a sample vial (.08 mL)... worth it? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Thanks for sharing your talents with us!

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@PrettyRetro Try Burberry Classic, the original Badgely Mischka, Lolita Lempicka L and Hermès Elixir des Merveilles.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@quietfi123 Proper Arabian oud is powerful stuff, indeed. But there are all sorts of ways to tame it and bring out various aspects of it.

[@gillagroupie]

"it really puts a tiger in my tank". not sure what that means, but i have a feeling that phrase is going to be sneaking into my vocabulary. loving this collection of videos about your collection of fragrances! =]

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@Apezy321 Ha-ha, I know! We just thought we were so bohemian and sophisticated.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

Collection update coming soon! Storage tip: store away from heat/light. Keep perfume in their boxes if you're not putting them in a cupboard/drawer.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@sakuraness I just act on a spur of the moment feeling, and yes, I go through absolute crazes of only wanting to wear one thing. But the problem for me is that I'm always having to try on samples and decants of new scents in order to review them or to comment on them, and so I can't wear my own choices as often as I'd like.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

I *love* that one, but like all those Demeter splashes, it doesn't hang around past 20 minutes. (Which is why they're billed as "pick me up" sprays, I guess.)

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@GreenDani18 Haha, that bit was klassy with a "k".

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@StevaughnSteed I've checked out those Elixirs Charnels, you're right, GC isn't my kind of thing personally, but it's yum as all get out for the gourmand luvvas out there...

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@kristabel71 Black Cashmere does invite huffing, to be sure.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@TedyGirl101 Pink Sugar is the one that smells more like candy. Another good candy one is Comptoir Sud Pacifique Vanille Abricot.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@Keidrag Try these: Christian Dior Diorissimo Coty Muguet des Bois YOSH Sottile

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@Indulge714 Perfume depts all over town know me on sight, too.

[@LittleMrsMiddleton]

yes! I love AVEDA love!!!! I worked in an Aveda salon and wore it every day!!!

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@Cr4zYH3aD For you, I immediately thought of Annick Goutal Encens Flamboyant. It's got "manly winter pine sap" written all over it. Also check out Comme des Garçons Zargosk, Miller Harris Feuilles de Tabac, and Pino Silvestre.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@GloriousNonsense Thanks! Agent Provocateur is such a glamorous sexy one, and I really like Miller Harris Un Petit Rien for a quieter sexy one. Perfumer's Workshop Tea Rose and Montale White Aoud are my rose picks. For lilac, try Miller Harris Coeur dété

[@Shellarella74]

We miss you lady , please come back to your tv land babies !!! Hope your doing well !!!

[@notyourgrannyscloset]

@KatiePuckrikSmells Oh, wow! I only got til part 2 of your 5 part reviews, I will be sure to check out all your other videos! Thank you, katie!

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@makeupcreator I find Cardinal a little dry and austere for my personal taste, but it is very nice.

[@longlonggone]

Aah! I'm wearing Avignon right now - and I'm about to sit an exam so I'm hoping the intellectual aspect of this 'un will see me through! I will totally try blending it with vanilla

[@Appalachianitis]

I got a bit burned out on nag champa because I went to high school in the 90s. It seemed like so many kids were crazy about the incense, not to mention smelling it wafting from Hot Topic. But now, whenever I smell it, I feel a bit nostalgic.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@CLOUDTHOUGHT Haven't smelled it...

[@CHERRYDOLLIPOP1]

Divinity in a bottle my thoughts exactly I love Arabic oils. I had never seen them until I was living in Egypt and I'm hooked.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@2013LuckyGirl I always loved perfume, and smelling pretty and glamorous and sexy - and for years would wear one scent at a time until I used up the bottle. Then when I was living in London, I discovered shops that sold off-the-beaten track indie perfumes, and got intrigued...and started branching out.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@MsIna25 Thanks! I shall seek that one out.

[@vanillacinnamon181]

ooh,.. I love church incense smell....it just takes you to a whole new world...simply can't describe that.... waiting to see more of your collection...

[@Gevedon]

Hi Katie! Rodrigo told me there will be more collection vids. Is there more? Yes, of course, you're a fumehead! Thanks, Elizabeth~

[@longlonggone]

@KatiePuckrikSmells It surely is; I aced my test. I blended Avignon with Pomegranate Noir today and it's very intriguing.

[@peekaboots01]

I have Donna Karan's Black Cashmere Body Cream and shower gel which I had to buy separately online. I could not find a bottle of the perfume. I searched and searched and all I found were sold out signs. Where can I buy the perfume?

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@meg1589 I've seen it at drugstores, and super cheap on Amazon and other perfume etailers.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@bizzyvid I can't think of a better wedding day scent! If it had existed when I'd gotten married, I would have definitely chosen it. I got a great deal on it from someone on Basenotes. And by the way, it's $100 cheaper in the UK, so that's something to bear in mind, if you ever travel that way. It is expensive, but you only need such a tiny amount when you wear it, so a little goes a long way. I love how it doesn't "read" as a cologne or perfume, more like "mmm, what's that glorious smell?"

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@lion03heart @lion03heart Fumehead Master says: The Perfumed Court is completely legit, but they specialize in selling decants of hard-to-find fragrances, so if you're looking for a bottle of Lyric Men (or Women, can't remember) LuckyScent or Aedes or FourSeasonsProducts are good bets, and they all offer to send samples to try before you shell out the big bucks.

[@Aveline_Jay]

@KatiePuckrikSmells hey Katie! I am wondering if Perfumed Court online is Legit ?or Lucky scent! cause I want to buy the Amouge Lyric that you recommended but I dont want to buy it on the homepage because its in euro and its complicated! can you tell me if you got something from them? or you giving me green light to buy from the My great Fumehead Master!

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@jasminutza Hi Jasmine! Describing smells is a challenge at first, but it's all a matter of comparison to other smells you're already familiar with. It gets easier as you go along.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@missfurtles I like that one, too. I doesn't smell especially incensey to me, even though that's what they say is in it. But I like how it's fresh and woody and a little different to what you normally can find at the mall.

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@Teewriter Haven't tried it - thanks so much for the recommendation!

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@brenreyes I lucked out 2 years back when they popped up on BeautyEncounter, I believe it was. I was so happy to find it!!

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@criminalmindxxxx Hi Leo! Every time I'm at the Guerlain "shrine" at Saks in Bev Hills, I mean to give Spirituese DV a good going over, but then get distracted by all other things to try: Derby, Vetiver pour Elle, Mitsouko parfum, etc etc!

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@eri633 I haven't smelled the reissued BC next to the original, but the new one seeme perfectly dandy to me when I tried it last month. I'm sure hardcore BC experts can tell a difference, but I'm more of a casual BC lover, so...I'm just glad it's back! Anyway, it's still easy to find the original on the Internet.

[@sheslubbs]

Are there any perfumes you would recommend that are very feminine, maybe a bit va-va-vavoom..y while still being elegant. I generally don't like vanilla or very oriental fragrances. Are there any perfumes that you can think of?

[@estoniaforever]

thank you for you effort for those videos. How do you store your perfumes? in package? In closet etc?

[@HLOkari]

Do you know if they have changed Shalimar? I read somewhere that they took the vanilla out of it and it no longer smells the same...

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

Haven't seen that line...

[@KatiePuckrikSmells]

@YOUWILLNOTshesays Depending on the frame of reference, we all tune into different aspects of a perfume.

[@mad1and1so1bad]

good to know that you bought something from the arabian oud company .. i love it here in saudi arabia .. and al hajar al aswad oil is so beautiful smelling :D

[@meg1589]

Where can you purchase the Perfumers Workshop Tea Rose?

[@Keig411]

Can you recommend something with a soft lingering Lily of the Valley?

[@brenreyes]

Hi Katie, Where did you get those mini bottles of Amouage fragrances? I can't find them anywhere.