Lagerfeld Classic is a bold, earthy, powdery, Ambery scent created for Men in 1978 by perfumer Ron Winnegrad.

It was originally released as ‘Lagerfeld’, or ‘Karl Lagerfeld For Men’, but was later renamed Lagerfeld Classic to distinguish itself from other fragrances within the house.

Karl Lagerfeld, the designer, was ready to create the first fragrance for his fashion house and wanted it to be something that complimented his personal style; Bold, sophisticated, confident.

And the scent really is bold.

The fragrance pyramid breaks down as:

Top Notes: Aldehydes, Tarragon, Clary Sage, Bergamot, Lemon, Green Notes

Heart Notes: Tobacco, Sandalwood, Orris Root, Patchouli, Rose, Cedar, Jasmine

Base Notes: Amber, Musk, Vanilla, Oakmoss, Tonka Bean

It opens with Licorice-like Tarragon, transitioning into a bright and powdery vibe with Citruses and Aldehydes, then back to Tarragon for a bit. A slight powdery essence remains as things begin to deepen. Sandalwood, Patchouli and Cedar create a woody, earthy richness with flowers mellowing any sharpness you might expect. Tobacco comes in next, creating a subtle smoky essence. In the base, Amber, Musk and Oakmoss create a Leathery essence, with Vanilla and Tonka Bean adding a smooth quality that feels like Suede.

You can imagine that this is what James Dean or Grease 2’s ‘Lone Rider’ would smell like.

It’s the scent of the cool, mysterious guy who’s always wearing a leather jacket, smoking a cigarette and leaning on something.

I can only imagine how bold and intense this scent was in its heyday.

Today you can find Lagerfeld Classic in the Eau de Toilette spray. Even though this is typically a softer version of a fragrance, the bold elements of this scent will make it last for surprisingly long.

You can find Lagerfeld Classic at Parfumerie Nasreen, in store and online.