Blind Perfume Smell Test

Isn’t it strange how our perceptions of something can alter, based on outside opinions? In the fashion world, brand names mean everything, but is it the same case for beauty?

Much like our ‘guess the gender’ perfume challenge, we took five perfumes, packaged them all to look the same, and filmed four bh beauty editors smell and review each of the scents. The results? Unexpected is an understatement.

Jo Malone London 154 Cologne

This strong-scented, citrus and woody composition was named after the street number of the first Jo Malone boutique in London and contains ingredients synonymous with the brand.

Top notes: bergamot, grapefruit and mandarin
Middle notes: lavender, basil and nutmeg
Base notes: patchouli, vetiver, musk and vanilla

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Nuit Blanche

This new interpretation of the classic Black Opium, Nuit Blanche is both spicy and floral, and explores modern femininity. Bold, unpredictable and sensual, it celebrates the dark and mysterious side of YSL.

Top notes: rice vapour and bourbon pepper
Middle notes: orange blossom absolute and peony accord
Base notes: coffee, vanilla, sandalwood and musk

David Beckham Urban Homme EDT, $19.95

A limited-edition scent, Urban Homme is a crisp, modern, aromatic fragrance for men.

Top notes: mandarin, thyme and green apple
Middle notes: lavender, violet leaves and pineapple
Base notes: cedarwood, suede and amber

Robert Piguet Petit Fracas, 100mL, $249

Available at David Jones

Fresh, youthful and feminine, this scent was designed for a younger market, those not ready for the heavier and classic Fracas fragrance.

Top notes: citrus and pear
Middle notes: tuberose, jasmine and gardenia
Base notes: cocoa, musk and sandalwood

BYREDO Gypsy Water EDP, 50mL, $167

Available at Mecca

One of BYREDO’s best-selling fragrances, Gypsy Water recalls the scent of fresh soil, deep forests and campfires.

Top notes: bergamot, juniper berries, lemon and pepper
Middle notes: incense, orris and pine needle
Base notes: amber, sandalwood and vanilla

Are you swayed by a brand when it comes to buying your beauty products? Are you surprised by what our editors thought of these fragrances?

109 Member Comments

Joey502 15 Sep 2018 3:16 PM

Love this video! I really enjoy watching it! I love YSL opimum and the Robert Piguet Petit Fracas! So feminine, classy and sexy :)

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Electra1 22 Sep 2017 2:08 PM

I love Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Nuit Blanche!

Rpear 19 Sep 2017 9:17 PM

Haha I loved this video!! Made me smile!! It reminded me of a sex and the city episode when they try different scents... They had apples and hay !! Haha - interested to smell the David Beckham one!

Shop A Everyday 3 Sep 2017 5:48 PM

I love the YSL Black Opium

Goddess..... 3 Sep 2017 7:55 AM

They did a great job at testing them all, Way to go. I could never do that simply I haven't had that many perfume's over the year's so I would be bad at this guessing.

Chrystalage 2 Sep 2017 12:52 AM

None for me, perfume does not agree with me.

Yohanna 1 Sep 2017 5:54 PM

I think opium would be my sort of signature one, but Gypsy would suit my lifestyle atm =D

Sally10 1 Sep 2017 5:38 PM

I would love to try that Byredo perfume, but it is so expensive! :(

Margaret 322 9 Jun 2017 11:43 AM

The Gypsy water sounds amazing, I'll have to try and find that and the David Beckham one. I'm off to Myers to see if I can check them out. What a fun experiment, great to see your opinions and guesses.

CaitMay 8 May 2017 11:11 AM

I'd love to try black opium, I agree with others in the comments though, my perfume choices are made by the scent not by marketing or brand names. Good video though, thanks BH

Dilettante 6 May 2017 3:09 PM

Black Opium top note is rice vapour?

jlsta 4 May 2017 10:47 PM

so surprised! YSL is great though

sharon152 26 Apr 2017 10:26 AM

Does anyone make their own perfume using essential oils, just wondering?

yasminh 24 Apr 2017 11:34 PM

Fracas sounds lovely

cosmoslyn 24 Apr 2017 10:35 PM

if bh wants to open a branch in adelaide i'm all in

AP1992 24 Apr 2017 8:39 PM

Working for BH would be the best job ever

emma_mcmuffin 24 Apr 2017 2:41 PM

I'm really keen to smell the YSL black opium one, it looks so intriguing!

Peta908 21 Apr 2017 3:37 PM

YSL - love black opium

CLWoods 21 Apr 2017 9:21 AM

I would have done so, so badly at this test/challenge... aha

Beth720 3 Apr 2017 6:49 PM

I find it very interesting how different a scent can smell on one person vs another.

I remember my mother telling me about a perfume that she said smelled like cat pee on her. I thought she was exaggerating, but then one day I tried the perfume Joy de Patou (at that time the most expensive perfume in the world) and phewee...cat pee was a kind description! I couldn't believe how bad it smelled, but clearly it either reacted badly with my body chemistry, or there is some genetic oddity about my sense of smell. I am certain that no matter what the reputation of a brand, nobody would be able to bring themselves to walk around smelling of cat urine, lol!

clearcrystalwater 25 Mar 2017 5:35 PM

Ooooh I just tried a new perfume today and it was really, really bad! It's not listed on bh yet but if it was I think it might get a 1 star rating from me. I have to be honest.

Shop A Everyday 5 Mar 2017 3:58 PM

It is sad when you apply perfume and you can't smell it on yourself

Petal 5 Mar 2017 11:25 AM

I have a skin chemistry where many perfumes aren't strong enough. I need industrial strength perfume. Sometimes a cheap perfume works just as well with my skin as a very expensive one, regardless of the brand.

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LaurenCeh 4 Mar 2017 4:10 PM

Some of these responses are hilarious

talk-a-lot 4 Mar 2017 1:55 PM

Ooooh there are several fragrances here I want to try. I liked the perfume smell challenge, funny.

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bh’s perfume knowledge put to the test