2023 Smelly Games thread

[Pinkster]

Okay everyone, I think we have our winners!



Amber and Soliflore are our two genre favorites at 6 votes each, and for our theme challenges we also had six votes each for fantasy accords and 10 materials or less.

Hope everyone sees something they like—I’m excited!

 

[AdamE]

How does this work for everyone:

March 31st: Soliflore

June 30th: 10 Materials or Less

September 30th: Amber

December 31st: Fantasy Accord

 

[xii]

Fine with me.

 

[Pinkster]

Perfect, count me in!

 

[Pinkster]

Anyone else already thinking about their submissions?

I know we still need to find some judges, but a few other questions have come to me as I’m starting to think about these games:

• Are we going with a strict interpretation of soliflore, ie needs to be based on a floral? I’ve seen some people refer to any fragrance that has a single predominant note (like vetiver, or patchouli) as a soliflore, so I thought I’d clarify. I’ve got no skin in this argument because I’m considering geranium anyway, but wanted to hear peoples’ opinions.
• For the 10 materials challenge, how do we deal with bases? I’m assuming we’d want to steer away from our own premade accords, but what about something like Wardia, Cassis 345b, or the bases Paul sells on PSH?

Any and all thoughts welcome! As ever, I’m very much looking forward to these challenges.

 

[xii]

As for under 11 liners I'd suggest materials everyone can easily source.

With soliflores I'm fine with anything.

 

[AdamE]

I had assumed that Soliflore meant floral, but I'm also open to whatever people want to do that features a single note front and center. I think the individual interpretation of the challenge is half the fun and typically fosters more creativity.

In regards to the 10 materials or less challenge, I had not really considered the use of bases, but am not wholly opposed to them. I think maybe if theyre bases available from Firmenich, etc that should be fine. Its still the use of a single material to you, the perfumer. Idk, Im open to whatever everyone is comfortable with. I would probably discourage the use of your own accords

 

[ourmess]

Allow common bases with the rationale that they're similar to naturals, and I doubt that anyone would consider disqualifying naturals from "10 lines or less".

 

[Pinkster]

I agree that allowing the use of professional bases makes sense—if nothing else, a lot of them are often used as cheaper alternatives to natural materials. And it’s not like we’re banning naturals just because they contain more than one aroma molecule.

Edit: What ourmess says above—I think we just had the exact same thought at the exact same moment!

 

[xii]

Personally, I'm doing floral soliflore and won't use bases in 10. These two are going to be old school.

 

[Pinkster]

Personally, I'm doing floral soliflore and won't use bases in 10. These two are going to be old school.

I’m aiming for the same, but hedging my bets in case I blend myself into a corner and desperately need a base or two!

 

[dwsel]

Personally, I'm doing floral soliflore and won't use bases in 10. These two are going to be old school.

I'm also going for single-flower for the first one.

For the second one I've strongly considered the use of the sandalwood/oud-wood base. I motivate it by saying that many of the vintage formulas were already made with bases and in the modern times we've already replaced some of the naturals with bases (due to cost, sustainability or non-allergic properties). Also if I were to make nice smelling sandalwood it would already eat 2-4 materials.

Due to these 3 reasons I vote for allowing the use of the professional bases.

 

[xii]

Anyone else already thinking about their submissions?

For the sake of bumping the tread, sort of, yesterday I tackled the 10 head-on. There are number of perfumes I’d like to blend which might be done with ten materials. Which is reassuring. Or so I thought. In any case the 10 challenge is likely to become my primary obsession.

 

[AdamE]

JUDGES

If you're interested in judging one or more of the upcoming games, I need to hear from you. I hope to announce the "official" Soliflore game thread after the first of the year and would like to have some folks lined up. Looking for 3-5 judges

Let me know if you're interested or send me a private message.

 

[Jitterbug Perfume Lover]

For some reason, I can't find the Smelly Games #3 thread??

 

[Culpa Ire]

Wood for the trees scenario. It's just below...

https://basenotes.com/community/threads/2023-smelly-game-3-amber.539328/#post-5961182