Lagerfeld Classic

Lagerfeld Classic is a complex fragrance in many ways. As much as it is considered, especially these days, as dated and the starting point for many releases that came later, its biggest challenge was breaking down gender barriers, something that is already difficult today and was much more in the '70s. Lagerfeld Classic has notes of lemon, orange, bergamot, tarragon, nutmeg, sage, and aldehydes on the top. In the body, dense notes of tobacco, iris root, rose, jasmine, cedar, sandalwood, and patchouli. At the base, notes of amber, musk, oakmoss, vanilla, and tonka beans. It is classified as oriental-woody, but it usually behaves in a very particular way on different skins. For some, it's oriental-spicy; for others, oriental-fougère. On my skin, it usually reveals a more oriental-chypre aspect, with many nuances typical of female chypres from that time. As soon as it is sprayed, Lagerfeld Classic brings a scent of overripe orange, with a peculiar sourness and a very powerful aroma of citrus peels. This output has a direct connection to the masculine colognes that were rich in lemon, bergamot, and petitgrain. The difference is in the aldehydes, which give it a more delicate appearance and an orange color, not green. By itself, it already escaped the standards of virility imposed by the culture and the economy of that time. As if that wasn't enough, the body brings flowers, and they are not shy. Jasmine is very noticeable and forms the link between tobacco and patchouli notes. There is a mixture of the smell of a pipe, whiskey, and chocolate amidst the flowers and the sharp essential oil of the roses. Time passes, the drying progresses and the musk reveals a more animalistic side, as usual in the ’70s. The warmer and more sensual side emerges, the vanilla flirts with oakmoss, but the relationship is passive-aggressive. The tonka beans reinforce the smell of tobacco, but the powdery aspect of the iris decides to appear, by surprise, like that guest who arrives at the end of the party, when everyone is already leaving. In my opinion, Lagerfeld Classic was launched to pair with Chloé Eau de Parfum, launched in 1975, when Karl still dictated the rules there. From the color to the scent of the fragrances, there is a close and very sensitive relationship to my sense of smell. Undoubtedly, a transgressive perfume in the midst of the market standard. I remember the smell of the oldest version I knew (probably at the time of Unilever, in the late '90s), and its much more leathery and powdery smell. This version that I review here lost a lot of that powdery smell and gained more artificial nuances, for obvious reasons, but it's still beautiful and with great performance. Lagerfeld Classic was Karl's answer to those who said men couldn't wear gloves, tortoiseshell glasses, let alone have their hair long, tied in a ponytail. Well, he went there, checked all the boxes, and reinforced his visual image, which ended up becoming his trademark.

I have the Interparfums version, and apparently it is night and day different than the Coty version. What I get from the Interparfums version is a tobacco beast right from the rip. The tobacco accord may be getting help from the tarragon, but it is very nice. There is sage and just a bit of lemon in the opening, but mainly I get a great very dry tobacco, not sweet pipe tobacco. The Patchouli is there as well, and this combo of notes goes on for a long time. The Interparfums version smells nothing like Obsession or Shalimar. There is absolutely no cinnamon, very little vanilla or tonka. It is not powdery at all. This stuff is amazing. It has some amber in the drydown, but this is not the sweet powdery almost gourmondy scent that many of the reviews below describe. I have never smelled the vintage version. I just know that I really like the Interparfums version. Projection and longevity are very good. I highly recommend trying the Interparfums version before you write this fragrance off because of the Coty reformulation. UPDATE: I purchased a shrink-wrapped bottle of the Unilever version. In a side-by-side comparison with the Interparfums version, they are very close. The opening of the Unilever is more powdery and creamy compared to the Interparfums. The Interparfums is sharper and brighter and initially projects more. Neither version even remotely resembles Obsession or Shalimar (this comparison must be coming from the Coty version). In the mid, the Unilever stays powdery, which is probably the oris root hanging around. The tobacco is present, though not as strong as in the Interparfums version. They both have the orange(y) type accord, but it is a bit stronger in Interparfums version. The drydowns are where the 2 versions are the closest, with the only difference being that the Unilever keeps the powderyness. The oakmoss and amber are there in both, but the amber in the Interparfums version may be a bit stronger. Overall, the Interparfums version performed slightly better 5-6 hrs vs 5 hrs. Neither are beast mode. If you like more powdery scents, you will probably like the Unilever more. If not, the Interparfums will probably suit you better. I am searching for a Bethco version in my price range. That may take a while. I will also keep on the lookout for a cheap Coty version to confirm my suspicions. Update 2022-09-26 I finally got my hands on a vintage "Cologne" splash and spray. I'm not gonna say too much more other than there is no need to chase the vintage. There is not enough difference to spend that much $$ on it. They have done a really good job keeping the formulation of the new bottles as close to the vintage as possible. I was expecting a major oakmoss upgrade, but it was not there.

Old school, new pleasures Congratulations to the Karl Lagerfeld brand, for the inspiration to create this fragrance and to maintain it on the market since 1978. I bought my current Lagerfeld Classic quite recently - about six years ago - so I'll just have the current formulation in my mind. - It opens with aldehydes and a strong unusual orange note (Citrus + Tarragon = Orange?), Well, it smells like a pleasant strong zesty sweet boozy Orange. - Then you notice three musketeers in action, Tonka + Vanilla + Amber duelling with Tobacco. What a divine scent. It's very lively in the beginning and slowly it calms down as time goes by... and it lasts and lasts and lasts... Eight hours went by and I still have a faint projection in the back of my hand (just 1 spray) and a marvellous skin scent. Comments: Due to its well-tamed sweetness, I imagine that this fragrance may as well be considered unisex, I can picture this magnificent powdery sweet Vanilla-Amber-Sweet Tobacco drying down on a woman's skin, My rates for Karl Lagerfeld for men: ____________________ - Scent opening: 8.0 (unusual but pleasant) - Scent dry down: 8.5 (very pleasant) - Longevity: 9.0 (above average for the existing notes and close to beasty performance with 3 sprays) - Sillage: 8.0 (6 feet at its peak with 3 sprays) - Uniqueness: 9.0 (quite a unique blending, considering the existing fragrances that I am aware of; Nobody was able - or cared to - copy it in the past 40 years) - Wearability: 9.0 (close to 4 seasons, day or night with the exception of extreme cold or heat) - Versatility: 9.0 (yes to clubbing, socializing, events, restaurants... and yes to dates, romancing, sex, office, picnics, weddings, movies, a birthday gift to your father-in-law... no to workout and beach!) - Compliments: 8.0 (not bad for an old school; younger people will say is outdated; older people will love it; everybody loves the zesty opening) - Quality: 8.0 (my judgement) - Presentation: 8.0 (simple but effective; very good sprayer) - Price: 9.0 (100 ml tester for 18 Euros + VAT + shipping) _____________________ Overall rating: 8.50/10.00 - between 7 and 8 =above average; - between 8 and 9 = recommended; - bigger than 9 = don't miss it; My opinion: Yes, it's a super old-school fragrance but it's also super pleasant. Not advisable if you are committed only to fresh, sweet. modern "blue" scents. Otherwise, it's a must! Music: Phil Collins - "In The Air Tonight"

My dream scent in the 80s and 90s. Magic, the best thing I had ever smelled, evoked some wild, genetic, infatuation memory I had never experienced. And that's quite a feat. Alas, none of my men really wore it, as it was popular with the gay crowd (how I found it), and only for the really confident straight man. It was expensive then, and the one time I took a chance and gifted it, he stuck to the gross Obsession daily, saving the KL for special occasions, and we soon broke up (probably over the Obsession lol). There was nothing sexier than going in for a hello neck kiss at the end of the day and whiffing the intoxicating, unique sensuality of KL, by then a skin scent, but nice when fresh, too, just not for overdoing. I always wanted to wear it myself, and did sneak some. Now I would wear it, er, the original, no problem, or mix it. It must have been reformulated for anyone to say it smells like the over the top, gross, sudsy, sneezy Obsession. KL wasn't for that, "Hi, I smell like everyone and you can smell me a mile away." fad projection. KL was utterly unique, nothing like it, and very ahead of its time. I would classify it with Cartier Must, which I used to wear as a signature then (more feminine EDT on top of the heavy, more masculine parfum) and talk about your reformulation sins, plus no more parfum now. And also in the same category as my next signature, Aqua di Parma Blue Mediterraneo Mandorlo di Sicilia, which I still wear, as I still have half of a last large bottle of the lovely but sadly discontinued parfum oil. (the EDT is wearable, but nothing like this oil, for us subtle ladies). I might try a bottle of modern KL, as it's so cheap and might be great with the Aqua di Parma. But the original was nothing like the negative descriptions here (Old Spice?? NO! They did say they never smelled OS, obviously!, plus that was aftershave, and OS one of the first male scents, and as cheap drugstore as you can imagine. Yes, cologne later, but same.). KL was a rich, classy gourmandish scent, to me, in a world of none. I suspected that KL was reformulated by the 90s, as there was a more detergent top note, so I let my dream fragrance go. At any rate, it's a lovely, complex memory of sexy witchcraft. Warlockcraft? Unicraft! And it doesn't remind me of any time, man or affair, just the memories that a really great scent evokes. It was true art.

My father's signature cologne, wore it every morning since inception, to the point that it melded with his bodyodar and the combination WAS my father's DNA scent. He passed away 3 years ago, now that im back into the frag game being away from it for 20 years, i just picked up a bottle, to sniff every once in a while, so i can remember & not forget what my papabear smelt like for those reminiscent days... :( For 1978, this dna in the industry is A MASTERPIECE!! Probably a victim of multiple reformulations today. It's a boozy/spicy/soapy combo frag, and in 2020 im actually still in love with this scent even without the nostalgia taking into consideration. Im trying to be honestly critical by giving a critical opinion without the nostalgia of smelling this on my dad every day of his life. At the end of the day, I just love how they made a soapy scent pair with a boozy scent! I really love the soapy note in this!! <3 You would think soap and booze is an ignorant combination, but it works! Just like chicken & waffles with maple syrup, ignorant combo, but it works for reasons. Jesus...best $20 bucks ive spent in a long time! 100% worth for a collection!! It smells fantastic quality for a cheap designer!! I even think that it's so old that it can become trendy again. I bought this to remind me of my father's scent so i don't forget it, now im keeping the bottle to actually wear myself, smells fantastic! Classic! Anyone can wear this, but it melds really good for anyone with dark features and oily olive skin for some reason. IMHO since NOBODY talks about this frag today makes it slept-on! FYI this is a 2019 'Interparfum' Co. bottle. This gets stereotyped for being a late evening smoking jacket frag. No! This frag is even better when wearing it first thing in morning, on cool crisp air days because of that fabulous soapy note!! Now i want to find other modern frags with that soapy note in it! Instead, think leaving a luxurious hotel first thing in the morning and going for a run outside. A luxury version of this without the amazing soap note is MFK's Grand Soir. I would give my right kidney for an original batch of this MASTERPIECE!! To that, RIP to Lagerfeld, the original formulation, and my father... 5/5 Woofs!

this perfume is how I imagine a badass futch cowgirl to smell like tbh. this perfume (found at a decent price of 20ish euros in the Oslo airport) is absolutely a hidden gem for modern perfume. starts off with a sweet and fresh orange rind, which I think gets that fresh breath of western desert air from the tarragon top note (anise-y licorice-y goodness). throughout the whole perfume, there’s a little bit of a pipe tobacco sprinkled on every layer, bitter and smoky with a hint of powder. it goes down in a similar vein to obsession, where it’s this warm, slightly sweet vanilla-y scent aided by the stabs of tonka throughout, yet the difference with this and obsession is that this still retains that rough and tumble wrangler vibe; more amber and wood notes in it (like more of a dried vanilla wood than obsession’s vanilla pod if that makes sense; I think it’s the oakmoss that gives it that slightly gruffer sweaty scent that drives it home to “hot disco”) this to me would be the perfume worn by a futch cowgirl as I said in the beginning. I see this as more of lesserafim’s unforgiven than say itzy’s not shy if that makes sense; less of a sequined flashy cowgirl having fun in the saloon nightclub, but a more leather wearing, outlaw hunting, skin scraping cowgirl going to the disco to pick up a saloon girl for a wild ride. this is one of my truly cowgirl perfumes and I think would’ve feasibly named something with Mojave in it tbh. longevity is amazing, wore it in the morning for a flight and got back home in the afternoon and it was still going strong, then ran errands until the evening and that dry down was still there. I’ve also performed with this perfume and I woke up the next morning with it on. I think it’s a great addition to my collection and allows me to open up more new characters for drag! next stop: the vintage formulation!

I'm generally skeptical about people who claim that the reformulations are a pale shadow of the OG. It is a human tendency to think that most things were "better back then", where emotion and sentimentality are free from true comparison. That said, Lagerfeld was my signature fragrance from 1983 until 2014, during which time I bought over a dozen bottles of the EDT, and I am here to tell you, the new stuff is a pale shadow of the OG. The OG could easily choke a room, and the two sprays on the chest that I used lasted all day. The opening could be harsh, but after 30 minutes, this was a certified lady killer. As the years went by, the color changed, becoming the current bright orange. It seems like they felt that the color needed to be stronger since the scent became weaker. I stopped wearing this in 2014, which was half a decade before I got "into" fragrance, and that was due to the fact that the new stuff literally was gone within an hour, it was a thin, lightweight affair, and it never got beyond the somewhat harsh opening. If your juice is bright orange, or the bottle/box says "Classic" on it, you have the new stuff, which I am certain is the cause of the sub-4 star rating above. When I started to get into fragrances, this was one of the first that I re-bought, to great disappointment. By then, however, Ebay was alive and well, and I discovered that a 30ml bottle of the vintage could be bought for about $30. The vintage was everything I remembered, and I quickly bought two more bottles. You can currently buy a vintage 100ml bottle for under $40, and if you love old school fragrances, you absolutely should. This is powerful without being choking (at least after 30 minutes); it has sweetness without being feminine; and it doesn't smell like anything else you have, guaranteed. I am so happy to be re-united with this one.

You know how you go clickin' round here on Fragantica and sometimes you're trying to decide what to wear. Then you read a review and wonder what you yourself have said about a certain fragrance? You go look for the review of said fragrance and there is none! How could I possibly have never talked about Lagerfeld classic before? Weird. Well I've worn this for years. I am a woman. This fragrance (and any fragrance) for that matter is for whomever loves it. I don't smoke but this does have cigarette/tobacco-ey vibes. It is powdery and sweet. It does not remind me of Obsession. It doesn't remind me of any other fragrance. That is why it grabbed me and kept me all these years. Eons ago I discovered it residing up at the fragrance counter in the department store where I worked. I was into the full bodied orientals, Cinnabar, Guess for women, and everything new that came along. Too many to count. Fifteen years of having full access to every lovely perfume I wanted to wear. It would have been in the 80's when I first smelled it. I was young and naïve and didn't know I could wear whatever I wanted. Times were different. My gal pals would have thought I was strange wearing a "man's fragrance" back then. Thank the good lord that things have changed! I think I may have bought this for my brother to wear back then but I knew I loved it so I eventually met up with this community of frag collecting folks and found my people. Halleluiah! Lagerfeld may be the epitome of manliness for some and the most cuddly powder bomb for others. That is the great thing about perfumes, they can be what you want them to be. The Mr. has always complimented how nice I smell when I wear Lagerfeld. It is a beauty gals and dudes so just go for it!

I blind bought this, never smelled it before. After the first sprays i was thinking ohh no.... It opens very strong, and reminds me of Azzaro pour homme. Its very masculine and very mature. Not for the faint of heart. I really love loud fragrances that will fill up a whole room and more. Right after application i went out and it felt like it could fill up the whole neighborhood and it probably did. Now 3 hours later still MASSIVE sillage and i think it will last many more hours. I have been looking for a sillage and longevity monster forever. Even Joop! Homme doesnt last on me that long. I think i will write an update about how long it last on me tonight. Its really looking good so far! A couple of years back i would most likely not appreciate this, so im glad that this is totally new to me and that i did order without smelling it before. If you want something more subtle, then i dont think this will suit you, maybe it can work if you apply only one or two sprays. Update! Wow so it’s 8 hours since I applied Lagerfeld Classic and it is still going strong! I really believe this would last at least 12 hours. The dry down reminds a lot of Kouros, it’s potent and animalistic sexy warm seductive and mature. Smelling this on me feels like a different era, it’s nothing like todays weak mainstream fragrances. My bottle is the interperfume version. Very happy with it, will definitely buy another bottle.

This is a controversial fragrance. It seems as if many people either love it or hate it. There’s no middle ground here. I never smelled Karl Lagerfeld Classic before. Really!! Blind bought it, expecting the worst stink bomb ever. And in that context it disappoints. It doesn’t stink. Cautiously sprayed a little bit on the back of my hand, fearing it would strip my skin off or at least have to surgically scrub to get it off. It doesn’t smell dated or like an “Old lady” like other reviews tell. I got a fleeting sweet orange, followed by a musky smooth leathery smell, drying down to a sweetness that hints of vanilla. Also, it doesn’t smell cheap. This fragrance smells better on the air, and for the first fifteen minutes, please resist the urge to sink your nose on the skin to smell it. I think people dislike this perfume because of its opening notes, or because it is sprayed on paper. Remember, this fragrance is from 1978, and even though it was ahead of its times, it’s got a ton of different notes that begin to align when it dries down. Spray it on skin and wait.... It will develop and show its true nature. Then you will know if you like it or not. If you like leather notes, with sweets and or florals, chances are you will appreciate KLC. If not, please steer clear of it. Finally, several reviews stated a likeness to CK Obsession, that is not true. They smell completely different.

Wow ... should have spent a few extra bucks and purchased the big bottle ... LOVE IT! Another gem that I was so exposed to for a couple of decades but never made the plunge. Unlike many, I really don't pick up on a strong citrus ... especially no orange notes perceived by my nose. I get a nice, refined yet strong woody floral with a prominent rose note being present and amber. It is also a little sweet, but not a fruity sweet ... it's sweetness is definitely from a fairly strong vanilla. It's drydown combines the sweet, woody floral with nice prominent musky scent. This reminds me of 2 other fragrances that I like ... Jovan Musk and Zino Davidoff. Jovan is pretty rough at first but this refines it. Zino is a gentlemanly scent but it also has a fairly abrupt, short lived opening and Lagerfeld makes it more pleasant. If you combine Jovan Musk with Zino Davidoff then you pretty much end up with Karl Lagerfeld Classic. I like the fact that it's a little less formal smelling than Zino but a little more refined than Jovan Musk. If you are a fan of somewhat sweet woody florals with a forward leaning rose note and enjoy a nice musky drydown that lasts around 8 hours ... then take the plunge. Hey, it's cheap ... splurge for the larger size bottle ... you can thank me later. ENJOY!

My dad had a bottle of Ralph Lauren Chaps from the 1980's that I loved to smell when I was a kid. He would wear it on nights out, and I remember thinking it made him smell like a cowboy. When my parents split, he left his bottle behind when he moved out. I kept it ever since, using it a few times until I realized it was discontinued, opening it every now and then to catch a memory of my pops. It was the manliest cologne you could think of, in a slick bottle adorned with a silver bull horn cap. Masculinity in a bottle. Perfect for the cowboy that was my dad. I've been searching for a long time for something that was reminiscent to that Chaps cologne, and I recently stumbled upon this. I wasn't expecting anything from Lagerfeld to be honest as I bought it on a whim with a different order since it was so inexpensive, but from first sniff, all those memories of my dad wearing Chaps came flooding back. It smells 90% identical to what my memory can recall, and I've loved it from the moment I took it out out of the box. It took a long time, but I finally found something to take up the mantle Chaps held for so long, and I'm glad I did.

Unique and beautiful old school scent. The opening has a strong blast of citrus and tarragon giving a rough orange opening. The opening is sort of soapy to my nose. Don’t let the opening fool you into what this scent is like for most of its life. After the opening it shifts into a character that is powdery and floral and a bit woody. The final transition is one of vanilla, amber, tonika with the tobacco permeating the scent. Overall it’s like a mixture of scented talcum powder, amber and tobacco. There is a sweetness in this fragrance, but it’s not the same sort of sweetness that you find in modern clubbing scents. Really captures the smell of disco and new wave movements of the late 70s and early 80s. The new version might be different to the original scent, but this still is a complex and classy fragrance, quite wearable in the 21st Century. It lasts all day on my skin and projects reasonably well. On clothes it will last a couple of days. Not a blind buy, but saying that it is quite cheap at the moment, and if you want a scent that is fairly unique, then Lagerfeld Classic is certainly unique.

A classic masculine scent for the ages. I have worn this gem for some time now, and while I try out new same vibe fragrances, come back to it time and again; it is one of my staple perfumes. Apparently, Al Pacino was wearing Classic during the filming of Scarface to get into character (a bottle is visible during the bathtub scene). Anyway, for reviews that capture the description of Classic I recommend CGV's postings. For instance, I wear it with only 2-3 sprays under the shirt and let it work its magic, based on CGV's suggestion. And, as he says, Classic is enjoyed best as a composition rather than trying to dissect individual notes. I wear it year-round in climate controlled environments but not outside in hot weather. Don't overspray for a) it's strong and b) performance is great even from below the shirt as you get lovely whiffs throughout. Applied right, Classic really is a masterpiece to be enjoyed.

I just don't think that there are that many fragrances out there that could give so much pleasure to your senses. It is like a movie that you watch in every 5-10 years and it gets different and better as the years pass by and as we get older, wiser, more experienced. I am thinking Raging Bull, The Deer Hunter, Once Upon a Time in America, and others territory. I own fragrances that are 10x more expensive but when compared to this masterpiece they are not even close as far as being amazing. Lagerfeld Classic behaves very different on test paper than on your skin, it develops much differently. This is a fragrance that needs you, your body temperature, your skin, the environment around you. Do not judge it by first sniff at the store. Test it on your skin and let it open up. It will take you on a ride that is so incredible that you will buy multiple bottles of it. This is the apogee of perfumery. Easy 10/10.

I remember the scene like it was yesterday; me running up the street like a demented mad woman after a total stranger, because he had walked passed me and I was overwhelmed by how divine he smelled. It was the mid-'80s and it stopped me in my tracks, only briefly, and then I was off like a flash to catch up to him and ask what gorgeous fragrance he was wearing. I immediately went to my local perfumery and bought the biggest bottle I could afford and wore it as my signature scent for many years. I still own a couple of bottles. Although I expanded my repertoire of perfumes over the decades, I never forgot, never moved away or beyond and still love to wear it. I've completely forgotten what the man looked like who was chased by the heavy breathing, sweaty young woman, but I'm grateful to this day for our chance encounter. I think this fragrance might be what the best sex is made from.

This is a rare "love" for me. I have both a vintage and modern bottle. Both smell fantastic. The vintage is a darker juice with a slightly darker scent. The modern one is ever so slightly sweeter, more floral and powdery to my nose. It's also one of the strongest fragrances I have, and I have a bunch. A few sprays and I can smell it projecting from morning til night, and even smell it on my skin the next day. This fragrance is a wonderful connection from the late 70's through the 80's and all the way up to today. Not that anything released today smells like this. But, this is a very affordable way to own a classic that smells very similar to how it used to smell. This is a reformulation done right. It performs the same as the original (if not better), and brings us back to a type of masculinity that seems to be missing today.

Love at first sniff :) mainly because it reminds me of Givenchy III, which my late mom used to wear. I still keep the vintage 7.5ml parfum late 1970's bottle with a few drops left in it (yes, I can still smell it). Lagerfeld Classic is a bit similar to CK Obsession, but only in the opening. The drydown is where I get the Givenchy III similarity. It's powdery from the orris root and has that classic dry amber scent. I don't get any tobacco here. This was a blind buy so I was expecting this to be ultra masculine, much like any men's fragrance from that era, but I find it quite unisex. It's definitely a mature scent so I think those who are over 40 may enjoy it. Not a beast in performance, but no slouch either. Around 7 hours of longevity, which is great for an affordable fragrance. A masterpiece and 10/10 for me.

Lagerfeld Classic is one of my favorite inexpensive fragrances out there. It has similarities to the modern formulation YSL Kouros, almost like it could be a flanker. Lagerfeld has much less of the funky civet note, and it is replaced by dried citrus peels. This is unmistakenly a man's scent, and it isn't for young boys or for those who like Bleu de Chanel. This is a classic gentleman's fragrance for a tough guy who's in his 30s or older. I smoke cigars and pipe tobacco, and this fragrance goes nicely in a smoking lounge with a Glencairn of 20 year old scotch in hand. The longevity is average and the sillage is bold, but the value is the best factor. I only paid $20 for a 5 oz. bottle, and I was amazed at how great the quality of this fragrance was when I first wore it.

New formulation takes about an hour to really start smelling 'classic'. Smells like a makeup factory exploded in your face until that point. If you aren't prepared, you could become nauseated. The smell is still there, though. Just a whole lot more synthetic. Always will be an awesome scent. This was my grandfather's dress scent and I used to hose myself down in it when we 'went to town'. (I couldnt imagine more than 3 sprays, now) He finally broke down and got me my own bottle and I wore that through most of middle school, with Preferred Stock. This was mostly a nostalgia re-purchase. I cant attest for it being dated because I like old shit. I still proudly wear this and Obsession and I dont give a fuck who cares. Your cries and complaints are my compliments.

This is some strong potent juice right here. Not for everyone but for those that can appreciate the type of fragrance that evokes class and gentlemen like qualities. Do not I repeat DO NOT overspray. The reformulation is incredibly strong and long lasting. I get a very musky sweet tobacco mixed w a kinda orange extremely musky overtone. The opening is a combination of all that but the longer it stays on your skin the smoother and more softer the spice and vanilla sweetness will come to the forefront. There’s a lot in this and it could take a few wearings to really appreciate its full power and beauty. I really have grown to love this scent. It’s mature sophisticated and most importantly extremely complex which I can’t say for a lot of scents these days.

Karl Lagerfeld Classic is a masterpiece. It's a unique scent that never grows boring. Despite being almost fifty years old, it does not smell dated at all. It's quite difficult to describe. Orange peel, powder, woods. The composition is obviously expertly crafted and I don't know how Ron Winnegrad managed to make this uplifting, but he did. Every time I wear this, it lifts my mood. A happy, wholesome perfume, if that makes sense. I paid €25 for 150 ml, which is insane value. I look forward to wearing this many more times and I expect I'll continue to enjoy this greatly for the rest of the time I have left on this planet. I'm closing with the performance. It's perfect. It lasts all day long and it keeps projecting like crazy. It's a 10/10 for me.

Love, love love. Gentlemen, the first time I sprayed this on a tester strip I was blown away. I never ever would have tought fragrances like this exist. I'm a 19 year old guy who has just recently gotten into fragrances in the last 2 years. This absolute masterpiece punched you in the face first, with the bitter orange, and to me what smells like "Camel Yelow" cigarette tobacco, then embraces you with a warm comforting hug of baby powder like aldahydes. This was my gateway into retro/vintage fragrances. SUPER OFFENSIVE to most people, room filler, and this will literally not come off of my skin, and I will get whiffs of it the next day AFTER showering. Blew my mind. 10/10 for me. The missus also rates it a 7/10

Epic Journey Into the Bottled Yonder, 032 ------------------------------------------------------- Purchased May 2017 Fantastic one here. Lagerfeld Classic is the bee's knees with that amber cola aura surrounding every stage in its performance. Hard to say anything other than it's gotten me a few compliments, though that's not why I love and wear it. I spray this because it's a fucking update to Brut in the amber territory, and also a spiritual flanker to Sex Appeal. That's Lagerfeld Classic. Unfortunately KL can't formulate anything new worth a fuck, so this is the only one you need if you're curious about Karl Lagerfeld. I'd rather be wearing this than Obsession and Passion, that's for sure.

Lagerfeld Classic presents a vintage scent that evokes a sense of nostalgia. While some might deem it old-fashioned, its craftsmanship and affordability shine through. It offers a comforting blend that balances cozy relaxation with a touch of luxury, akin to unwinding in an upscale hotel lounge. However, those seeking more contemporary, Avant-garde, freshies or gourmand fragrances might want to explore other options. Also avoid if you dislike powdery fragrances. Despite being labeled 'grandpa-like' by some, this fragrance's unique charm and reasonable price make it worth considering for those who appreciate a well-crafted, inviting aroma reminiscent of a lavish getaway

I am wearing this since 1995 (when its was still called "Cologne") and reviewed it also on my youtube channel several times. This fragrance is all about the overall blend and its interaction with the skin & body heat. Picking it apart for individual notes therefore makes no sense. When being applied correctly (underneath the shirt), the deep, warm oriently creaminess which radiates throughout the entire day is masterful. It becomes its own signature smell the same way like Fahreinheit, Ted Lapidus Pour Homme or Egoiste do. These smells are insitituions of art & style. Even at its current status, Lagerfeld Classic still manages to deliver a perfect performance.

This is an absolute masterpiece. An old school timeless classic, a relic. At 1st spray it is warm and aldehyde-orange heavy, along with powdery woody spiciness. Reminds me of some kind of French soap. Next there is an old school spicy dose of cinnamon with cloves (not listed in the notes but they are there), alongside dry tobacco and patchouli. This comes of as an oriental fougere with heavy musk, oakmoss and amber on the drydown with dry tobacco present throughout. I absolutely adore this classic beast on a man. You have to like vintage scents to fully appreciate this 1. I have the vintage edition so can't vouch for newer reformulations. It's a love for me.

I just bought this stunning fragrance yesterday and when I look closer at the bottle I can detect that there used to be written APRES RASAGE under the name LAGERFELD. The name is written in bold letters like the one shown on this site, but very worn down. The bottle is a dabber. I am curious if this might be the original? Or was the After shave a different thing altogether? The scent is first surprisingly weak but then It turns magical! It swirls between a scent from a dusty sawmill to really sexual honey... For a moment, It turned smokey, nice! I have Francesca Bianchi discovery set and I'd say they live in the same sexy neighborhood.

Absolutely beautiful scent, one of the best out there and probably the most unique one, I've never smelled anything even remotely similar to this! Kind of orangy/woody/waxy/powdery smell with some distant sweetness. And the orange here is dirty, bitter and syrupy, not some light summer sweet citrus vibe you can find in thousands of other perfumes. This is a real masterpiece and one of a kind scent, so well blended smooth, sophisticated and classy. I would never guess it's so affordable, absolute banger! One of my top 3 with DHI and YSL La Nuit EdT. And design of the bottle and color of the juice are a cherry on the top. LOVE IT!!!

Karl lagerfeld classic might be the most underrated old scent that is still around. You put this on and you feel like a boss. Not in your face boss like aventus but more like "I've got control of my surroundings and I don't need to explain it". The tobacco note is very prominent in this fragrance throughout the whole wear. At the beginning it's actually very fresh almost like there's menthol in it but over time it develops in a very warm comforting and assuring scent. At 15$ for 50ml I don't understand how this isn't more popular. 7.9/10

I feel sorry for the poor souls who don't appreciate this incredible fragrance. They really are missing out on a very special and monumental creation in the history of perfumery. Even in it's current formulation, Ron Winnegrad's genius is still on full display. Even though I've been acquainted with Lagerfeld for only about 5 years now, it makes me visualize warm sunny carefree days in the summers of my youth. How it makes me think of my youth even though I didn't know this scent back then is a mystery. Very sunny and uplifting fragrance.

A warm, sensuous, spicy tobacco and orange, with traces of vanilla - very masculine, comforting. I could not detect all the other notes others have found. Everyone else seems to have got massive projection and sillage; not me, I got barely any (I asked people!). However, wearing it for myself is fine - it was like being in a warm embrace of calm self-assurance. I will spray more!! Edit: got some Elizabeth Arden 80s samplers. Deeper,rounder, stronger,warmer ,better than the current one. Still not massive projection, however.

In the 70s I worked at a small "department" store at the venerable NorthPark Mall in Dallas. I was responsible for the "men's fragrance" area, it was small but mighty. The biggest seller, by far, was the new Karl Lagerfeld cologne and aftershave. This was during the disco era and colognes had to go that extra mile and Lagerfeld fit the bill. Woody, smokey almost and just hung on for dear life in those hot, sweaty discos. We could not keep it in stock. It does not smell the same now but golly, the memories.

They just don't make 'em like this any more. Rich, buttery smooth, and luxurious, this is one of the nicest ambers I've ever experienced. The dried tobacco with all the resins produce (as they often do) an accord similar to dried fruit, but the complexity of the materials make this much richer. I bought a tiny bottle and loved it so much I had to own a big full bottle. As long as I can find this (in older formulations, so I can get more oakmoss), this will have a beloved place in my perfume "library."

I enjoyed hiking in California where I lived for years. I would always break off a leaf from the Black Sage that grew on the hillsides all up and down the State. I loved the smell of that leaf when I crushed it in my hand. Lagerfeld Classic smells like Black Sage leaves. A beautiful dried orange peel opening and then tobacco, spices, warm vanilla and wood. This lasts on me all day. And that's saying a lot because my skin burns fragrance like an old Lincoln with the a/c running burned gas.

If you know Karl then you know he would have to of had some influence on this one. It is excentric just like he is. I really LOVE this classic. To me it has that gasoline smell that Fahrenheit does. This bad boy is loud and proud. So much going on with the frag, it is like a Picasso abstract in liquid form. It is a complete mess but a classic and genius mess that you cannot ignore. The nose, R. Winnegrad, really constructed something far out. (bet you haven't heard that term in a while)

Lagerfeld Classic for men: This is yet another prime example of what I call classic elegance, we see this in many old school fragrances. This was my grandfathers “big time” cologne. Everyone always complimented him. In some ways it reminds me of obsession with its orange musk. Perfect for evenings or cold weather days. I am 31 at the time of this review and I have received compliments while wearing. Truly a timeless classic. Another testosterone fragrance, worn by men of class

I wore the original fragrance known as "Lagerfeld cologne" in the early 80's. "Classic" has some similarity with the cologne but is not quite as deep and spicy. The moss isn't quite as abundant and the tobacco note seems a bit less. It's close enough to bring back memories of my early collage years. Now "Classic" is discontinued so it has that in common with the cologne as well. When you can no longer find it "rogue perfumery l'homme m. lacroix" hits very close.

At first sniff, I didn't like it. I bought this blind and didn't like it when I first smelled it on the fragrance card. But once you put on our skin, it develops into something else. Very different than my normal fragrances; normally I"m a Blue fragrance wearer, this is a different experience. Goes on harsh but quickly mellows into a powdery and masculine fragrance. Good dry down and pretty good longevity. Even 10 hours later it lingers as a skin scent.

I wore this in my teens and changed for some reason. Bought it again in 11/2024... it sat. Wore it the last 2 days... it is the same...it does smell great... it is unique...and I love it all over again. In the meantime, I have thousands of dollars in fragrances sitting on my shelf. I cant fathom anyone hating this. It's so easy and appealing to me. It projects, it lasts. and considering the compositional complexity... it smells simple. Simply NICE.

Clean, fresh, masculine...classic. This is an amazing scent. Truly timeless. Yep, there’s citrusy-orange from the start, a little powdery (in a good way) and boy does it last. For the price, this is a safe blind buy for a confident male who wants to smell shower-fresh and not fruity. Love it. If in any doubt, just think...this was launched in 1978 and it’s still here. There’s a reason. Spray and wear that reason.

I'm a woman and find this unisex. I wear it often in autumnal weather!! If you love aromatics like basil & anise as much as I do, you might love the tarragon, which could be the top notes many are describing as harsh or weird (I find it neither.) The incensey-tobacco heart and orange pomander brightness only add to the ambery charm. At the family reunion, you'll see Lagerfeld with Eau de Rochas and Chergui.

Suuuuper rich, woody, and mature. On my skin it lasts 13+ hours, and on clothes 5 days. The performance and depth you get for the 30 bucks it costs is unbeatable, but it's almost unwearable if it's not a formal event or you're under 25 because of how just "hair on the chest" it is. Personally, I love it, and I always will. Thoroughly recommend as a collection diversify-er. 8.4 out of 10.

I own a "modern" batch and. . . it's amazing. Performance is A+ with longevity, and I'm not kidding, around 12-13 hours on my skin. One of the "pros" says that it smells like a dried orange peel in the opening; but in reality, it carries through the whole time, not just the opening. And yes, it can be an ideal signature scent, especially for men over 30. It's mature, but not "old."

For reference, I’m 32. Lagerfeld Classic, to me, smells like a glass of Powdery Cream Soda with orange zest spritzed on top. Then you took that glass into a 1970’s lawyers office and let it age. The dry down adds spice and pulls back a little on the little bit of sweetness there is. By hour 4 you smell the masterpiece. It’s mature. It’s robust. A true fragrance lovers fragrance.

THE perfume that pushed me into creating a Fragrantica account. I love perfume; I hate the price of today's perfume. Lagerfeld Classic is proof that you don't need to break the bank to smell great. I bought this on a whim from Notino as the reviews here were largely positive. Here's to finding more affordable gems!

I have the original vintage bottle of this. It says Lagerfeld COLOGNE SPRAY NATUREL. It's so smokey and woody and citrusy and its just incredible. I tested the new formulation in store just to compare and it still holds up. Very very classic. Next to Azzaro Pour Homme, it's my favourite vintage old school scent.

Amber woody ? Ahh no, it's actually still to this day the king of the chypre's. Creed Aventus is a good fragrance but will never compete with this though. Big chypre base followed with perfectly balanced heart and modifier sections. With a lingering sillage. The ladies very much love this one.

This fragrance has been a staple in my collection since the seventies. The bottle I'm using is one from the early nineties, (Kept it in a drawer). It's always been a fallback, last-ditch fragrance that I'd use before heading outdoors. Always a compliment getter. I'd give it an 8.5/10

Genius, iconoclastic, unique, seminal, provocative and irresistible. This was so daring when it debuted: too lovely for a man and too masculine for a woman. It is a stunningly beautiful marriage of floral, woody and fresh fragrant sensibilities. Lagerfeld was ahead of his time.