KL (1982)
by Lagerfeld

The current bottle I purchased in 2009 seems to have undergone reformulation.
Top-notes are still there, the interesting mandarine burst giving way to the spicier parts of the fragrance - but a lot seems to be missing from the 80's original. Smelling this fragrance today and wearing it, too, feels uncomfortable and having finished the bottle some minutes ago, I see no need to replace it. Nevertheless, KL still smells much better than many of the recent trendy releases marketed as "sexy" or "seductive" (take the latest "Guilty" by Gucci as an example".)

10th December, 2010.

Interesting as I read down the reviews of others, how many compare KL to Opium. I really love KL but the original KL. There has since been a change in the composition of KL that to me seems not as nice or long lasting. I love a spicy oriental perfume, but could never find anything remotely like the original KL. The newer version simply isnt the same. Opium is more harsher in fragrance to me, where as the original KL is very blended and balanced.

9th September, 2010.

As has already been said, KL is virtually identical to Opium (I always thought a little less sweet). It's difficult to say any more about it, as if you know Opium, you'll know KL. The beautiful fan-shaped Parfum bottle was most original thing about KL.

I'm always amazed when a manufacturer will produce a perfume so similar to another already on the market. For that reason I am neutral about KL - it's not the sort of fragrance I wear now, but during the 80s and early 90s, I would never have considered buying it, but bought Opium regularly.

28th March, 2010.

KL was somptuous, far superior to Opium and Cinnabar. I offred it to my mother yeras ago, I wish she had not finished the bottle!

16th March, 2010.

KL opens on a huge candied mandarin accord before filling out into a voluptuous, spicy-sweet oriental in an unapologetically bold, colorful style that has few proponents these days outside of Serge Lutens. Though soundly 1980s in flavor, KL is not oppressively loud. In fact, for a public used to wearing and smelling Angel, it’s actually quite polite in sillage and projection.

All the usual suspects are present: powdery amber, vanilla, indolic orange blossom, a touch of animalic musk, cinnamon and cloves. The notes are extremely well blended, so that KL comes off as a seamless, monolithic structure. Given KL’s sheer heft and intense sweetness, the liability involved is a certain tedium. The volume might not be offensive, but the looming, featureless presence becomes unsettling after an hour, then outright irritating after two. KL lacks the kind of complexity, eccentric edginess, or provocative accents that sustain interest in equally bold, sweet orientals like Eau Lente, Shaal Nur, Shalimar, or Maharanih. It’s a nice enough scent, but not something I’d be compelled to revisit.

11th December, 2009.

The one thing I noticed about KL is that it smells awful up close, spicy medicine-like. Seriously don't stick your nose to your wrist with it on. It smells absolutely WONDERFUL from its sillage. Just poofs up from under your shirt. Do not wear this directly on the clothing, either. On the chest is the best place.

This delicious clove and amber laden fragrance is spicy and elegant. Good longevity and sillage.

7th December, 2009.