KL by Karl Lagerfeld
Women 1983
Description
KL by Karl Lagerfeld is a spicy oriental fragrance for women. Launched in 1983, this composition features spices, orange, and bergamot in its top notes. The heart unfolds with cloves, cinnamon, ylang-ylang, rose, orchid, and jasmine, while the base rests on civet, amber, myrrh, benzoin, vanilla, patchouli, and styrax.
Show moreQuick summary
The olfactory pyramid
A guide to the opening, heart and lasting trail of the fragrance.
The community speaks
Compare the results and tap an answer to add your vote.
In the collection
Leading answer I own it
1,396 votes
What do you think?
Leading answer Love it
476 votes
Season
Choose severalTied for the lead Winter / Autumn
352 votes
Time of day
Choose severalLeading answer Night
249 votes
Each question has its own vote count. You can choose several seasons.
Fragrance profile
About KL
KL by Karl Lagerfeld is a spicy oriental fragrance for women. Launched in 1983, this composition features spices, orange, and bergamot in its top notes. The heart unfolds with cloves, cinnamon, ylang-ylang, rose, orchid, and jasmine, while the base rests on civet, amber, myrrh, benzoin, vanilla, patchouli, and styrax.
Spices Flowers White flowers Musk, amber and animalic Resins and balsams Woods and mosses
It may remind you of
Ranked by what the community voted.
More from Karl Lagerfeld
How it wears
Compare the results and tap an answer to add your vote.
Longevity
Leading answer Long-lasting
161 votes
Sillage
Leading answer Strong
198 votes
Character
Leading answer Traditionally feminine
84 votes
Value perception
Leading answer Fair price
56 votes
Have you worn KL?
Tell us how it opens, how it settles on your skin, how long it lasts and when you wear it.
Sort by
Selene
I agree with the previous reviews: the KL for women is a clear descendant of Tabu, Cinnabar, and Opium, a connection also evident in the men’s version. There’s no doubt Lagerfeld loved those accords. Yet, with its aromatic quality and evolution, it’s a worthy rival that deserves its place. The fan-shaped glass bottle is a beauty from every angle. The opening (of the EDT that smells like an EDP) is very spicy: potent clove, pepper, woods, leaning heavily toward Opium and Tabu. But as it settles on the skin, while the similarities remain, the KL shines with its orange peel notes tinged with vanilla. The creamy, lustful ylang-ylang accompanies fine touches of cinnamon. The base is where it shines: myrrh, musk, ambergris, and dreamy labdanum. I think Lagerfeld understood that when recreating a scent from the collective imagination, he had to deliver exceptional quality (which he did) to sit alongside the great oriental classics. The vanilla-floral note shines as it develops, the spices recede, and the rose becomes more perceptible. It’s a spicy vanilla liqueur with woods that invites seduction. A bomb of fixative power and longevity, with a generous spray that absolutely does not disappoint.
Espartaco
It’s in the same vein as Opium, Cinnabar, Youth Dew, and Tabu. The difference with the KL is that it had a certain refreshing tone, even within the realm of what can be considered a spicy, civet, and clove fragrance. To put it simply, the KL is a Cinnabar that takes a path of fresh peels and petals thanks to the ylang, amber, orange, and myrrh. If the others are vampiric, androgynous witches, this one has family and children, and don’t let anyone tell you it’s a witch.
Espartaco
In the same vein as Opium, Cinnabar, Youth Dew, and Tabu. The difference with KL is that it had a certain refreshing note, considering how spicy, civet, and clove-based fragrances can be. To put it simply, KL is like Cinnabar taking a path of fresh peels and petals thanks to ylang, amber, orange, and myrrh. If the others are a vampiric, androgynous witch, this one has a family and kids, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise—it’s not a witch.
Silvita
I adored it when I was younger, but I’ve never seen it again, which is a shame… it would be amazing to get it back, I really hope they relaunch it.