Okay, here’s my attempt at a blog post, mimicking the style and structure requested, all about trying to dupe the “Ode to Dullness” perfume:
So, I got obsessed, totally obsessed, with this “Ode to Dullness” perfume by Juliette Has a Gun. It’s supposed to smell like, well, nothing much. Clean, minimalist, kinda like fancy laundry detergent or a really expensive hotel room. But, it’s also, like, expensive. So, I thought, “Challenge accepted! I’m gonna make my own!”
The Mission: Operation Bland
My first step was, obviously, smelling the real deal. I went to a fancy store, sprayed it on a little card, and kept sniffing it all day. I also sprayed some on my wrist to see how it changes as it wear off, taking deep breaths like some kinda weirdo. People probably thought I was nuts.
I noted down every little scent, every single thing I could smell. It was tough! It’s supposed to be “dull,” remember? But I picked up on some key stuff:
- Cashmeran: This seemed to be the main player. It’s a musky, woody smell, but super soft.
- Star Anise: Just a tiny, tiny hint of something spicy, almost like licorice but not quite.
- Sandalwood: A creamy, warm woodiness in the background.
- Tonka Bean: A little bit of sweetness, like vanilla but more…grown-up.
And,maybe some other things,I guess.
The Experiment: Mixing Madness
I ordered a bunch of fragrance oils online. I felt like a mad scientist with all these little bottles. I got cashmeran, star anise essential oil, sandalwood fragrance oil, and tonka bean fragrance oil. Getting the pure form is hard, it is not my professional, so I took the eazy way.
Then came the fun (and messy) part: mixing! I started with a base of perfumer’s alcohol – you can get this stuff online too. Then, very, very slowly, I started adding drops of the oils.
My first few attempts were…disasters. One smelled like straight-up licorice, another like a men’s locker room. It was way too strong, way too much of something. I learned real quick that “dull” is actually hard to achieve!
The (Almost) Success:
I realized using the essential oil is too strong, so I decided to use all fragrance oil.
After, like, a million tries (okay, maybe ten), I finally got something that was kinda close. My formula looked something like this (this is just a rough estimate, okay? Don’t come at me if it doesn’t work perfectly!):
- 80% Perfumer’s Alcohol
- 15% Cashmeran Fragrance Oil
- 2% Sandalwood Fragrance Oil
- 2% Tonka Bean Fragrance Oil
- 1% Star Anise Fragrance Oil
I let it sit for a few days – apparently, this helps the scents blend together. I even put it in a fancy little spray bottle I had lying around.
The Verdict: Close, But No Cigar
So, did I perfectly dupe “Ode to Dullness”? Nope. Mine is definitely in the same ballpark, but it’s not exactly the same. It’s a little…sharper? Maybe a bit more woody. The real one is smoother, more refined, like it’s been blended by a super-fancy perfume wizard.
But, honestly? I’m pretty proud of my creation! It smells good, it’s subtle, and it cost me way, way less than the real thing. Plus, I had a blast playing mad scientist. Would I do it again? Probably! Maybe I’ll try to dupe another fancy perfume next…any suggestions?