The Great Layering Challenge #1b - DK Black Cashmere / CK Obsession

i think i'll be taking part in this one!! although, the only fragrances I own out of all the above (including possible layer partners) are Obsession & Classique - plus, these are both samples, so I only have a couple of mls of each! (oh, and I have LouLou but my mum has asked me not to use it, because it's almost finished!) have you got any suggestions, from looking through my wardrobe (if you have time) and seeing what i have? if you don't have time, not to worry, i'll figure something out!!

Ah, I have enough bottles and samples to give Black Cashmere a good layering.

I am in again!

Today, for my first layering challange, I've decided to layer Calvin Klein's Obsession and Jean Paul Gaultier's Classique (edt)

Obsession notes (from OsMoz)
Top note : Bergamot, Green note, Basil, Mandarin
Middle note : Jasmine, Orange Blossom, Coriander, Sandal
Base note : Vanilla, Amber, Incense, Vetiver

Classique notes (from BN)
Top Notes: Rose, Star Aniseed, Orange, Mandarin, Pear Liqueur ,
Middle Notes: Iris, Orchid, Plum, Ginger, Orange Blossom, Ylang-Ylang,
Base Notes: Musk, Vanilla, Woody Amber

What did you try?
CK's Obsession + JPG's Classique EDT = The Classique Obsession (I decided I'm going to give every layering I do a name!! lol)

Did you like it?
It's not bad. IMO, it doesn't really suit me.

Do you think it ‘works’?
(see above answer) - I think it may work better on others..would like to hear if anyone else tries it!

Did it illicit compliments / comments?
I'm at home, and nobody's around, so N/A!

Which notes dominated in the blend?
At first, both fragrances worked really well together - the citrus notes in both blended, and the rose (from Classique) & jasmine (from Obsession) notes combined, and it was a gorgeous smell!! After about 10 minutes, Obsession's 'spice' (for lack of a better word) pretty much took over, and there was only a very slight floral offering from the Classique. Now, it's pretty much the vanilla & musk that are dominating - can't smell anything from Classique, although there is a vanilla note in it, so it may be blended in!

Did it work out the way you imagined it would?
I was hoping the Classique would tame the Obsession a bit (wearing Obsession by itself doesn't work with my skin at all!!) - and it did!

Would you wear it again?
Not really sure. It probably depends on the mood I'm in...I'm not really an oriental kinda gal (not yet anyway), but, so far, this is the only way Obsession works on my skin...so, I think I'll have to say...maybe!

Thanks for this challenge!! I had fun with The Classique Obsession...now I just have to figure out whether or not I'm brave enough to try any other layering combinations in the future!!

I layered CK Obsession parfum with Les Nereides Imperial Opoponax.
The notes for Obsession are already listed, so I'll list the notes for Imperial Opoponax: opoponax(sweet myrrh), amber, vanilla,sandalwood, benzoin & citrus

DID I LIKE IT? Yes! very much. I enjoy each scent alone and layered.

DO I THINK THE LAYERING "WORKS"? Yes and no! It didn't blend seemlessly, the Imperial Opoponax is a yummy skin scent after it dries down so there wasn't much to compete with Obsession's sillage. The first hour was pure pleasure, the Imperial Opoponax helped cut the dusty/musty powder that I always get with Obsession but once Imperial started to dry down the powdery soft notes crept in.

DID IT ILLICIT COMMENTS OR COMPLIMENTS? Mr.Tinker & Little Miss Tinker did not notice, but I average 4-5 different scents a day so they stopped noticing what I smell like LONG ago... unless I smell like Eau d'Pizza .

WHICH NOTES DOMINATE IN THE BLEND? The first hour Imperial's sweet myrrh, vanilla & citrus where the dominate notes but going foward the Obsession's mandarin, coriander, amber & oakmoss where the notes I was picking up.

DID IT WORK AS EXPECTED? Honestly, it did. I went into the layering with the understanding that the Imperial Opoponax is not a high sillage scent. I expected Imperial to be a strong presence in the opening and the Obsession to take center stage. No surprises here !

WOULD I WEAR IT AGAIN? No. I loved the opening but wearing the combo would truly be a waste of Imperial Opoponax because it becomes SO overshadowed I do not detect it at all.

So, that is Stinkerbell's report in the Great Layering Challenge

OK, so I did it...

What did you try?
CK Obsession + Hermès Hiris

Did you like it?
No!!!

Did it illicit compliments/comments?
Daughter (soon 16) smelled it and said: "Yikes! Is that one of your L´ArtINSANE samples again?!?" L ´ArtINSANE is her name for all random niche...

Which notes dominated in the blend?
The only one I could identify was the vanilla...

Did it work out the way you imagined it would?
No, much worse. To me they didn´t match at all. The opening was very sticky/boozy (like in alcohol) /aldehydic (?!?), with an enormous sillage, but it soon mellowed down to just a strange, somewhat spicy vanillic blend. The dry down was similar to that of Obsession on it´s own.

Would you wear it again?
No, never, unless I get paid for it!

It was fun, though, but next time I´ll see me out another of your combos, dear moondeva! I promise not to give up.

What did you try?

DK Black Cashmere + SL Arabie

Notes for Arabie: cedar, sandalwood resin, candied mandarin peel, dried fig, date, nutmeg, cumin, clove, Ceylon cardamom, bayleaf, balsamic resins, tonka bean, Siamese benzoin, myrrhe, cistus labdanum, rockrose, light tobacco note.


Did you like it?
Tricky. First application: spray of BC and a dab of Arabie. Same arm, different spots. Arabie completely vanished in the BC cloud. After half an hour I dabbed Arabie again, but now on the same spot as BC. At last a good result! Two hours later I am gasping for fresh air. This is almost too much to handle.

Do you think it 'works'?
Good Lord, yes, it works. But you need a nose of stainless steel. Although I can see me wearing this when I have a severe cold. This will wriggle its way through clogged up noses. Should come with a warning.

Did it ellicit compliments/comments?
DH left home long before I applied this and I am not waiting for his comments in the evening.

Which notes dominated in the blend?
Spices, spices and spices.
Have mercy on me, I have to prepare an Indonesian dish tonight with...eh....spices

Did it work out the way you imagined it would?
Ehm, let's be nice. Not really.

Would you wear it again?
I don't think so. Those two beauties are too much of heavyweights to play nicely with each other.

Potent?? Dear Lord, two showers later and it was still there, driving me insane

I must have overdone this Big Time!!